American forces build up near Imam Ali shrine
Iraq-USA, Military, 8/25/2004

News reports coming from Najaf said that the city will witness in the coming hours a great attack to be jointly conducted by the American and Iraqi forces against the fighters of al-Mahdi army in Najaf.

The American tanks reinforced its positions near Imam Ali shrine. Witnesses said that the American troops backed by tanks are controlling the city's streets in the downtown of Najaf, hundreds of meters from the shrine.

The Iraqi national guards forces joined the American Marines in the clashes with the supporters of the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader, with the majority of them fortifying in al-Imam shrine and the surrounding area. Very violent fighting is taking place inside a circle of one kilometer from the shrine controlled by al-Sader supporters.

A spokesman for the American army alleged that one missile fired by al-Sader supporters on Tuesday during the clashes hit a wall in the shrine of Imam Ali and might have inflected damages in the building. The American jets and artillery backed the American forces in the strong bombardment of the fighters of al-Mahdi army especially in the surrounding of the shrine.

News reports said that gunmen attacked yesterday a truck and an ambulance carrying technical aid to Najaf and this resulted in killing two and setting fire in the two vehicles.

In Basra, violent clashes erupted between al-Mahdi army and the British forces. News reports said that al-Sader supporters damaged three British vehicles.

Previous Stories:
  American forces bombard al-Haidari courtyard in Najaf   (8/24/2004)
  Three American soldiers, one Polish killed in attacks near Baghdad   (8/21/2004)
  American forces bombard Najaf, Falluja; al-Sader handed over Imam Ali Shrine keys to Shiite clergy   (8/20/2004)
  American forces break into al-Sader city in Baghdad   (8/20/2004)
  Occupation forces block the entrances of the city 12 killed and 10 wounded of Falluja contingent   (6/10/2004)
  Five Americans, four Iraqis were killed, clashes in al-Najaf   (6/1/2004)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search