US-led forces may launch limited offensive against Mehdi Army

Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr

January 3, 2006

Baghdad: US-led forces are likely to launch a limited New Year offensive against Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr's Mehdi Army militia, blamed for sectarian death squad killings, senior Iraqi officials say.

The Pentagon, in a report last month, described Mehdi Army militias as the biggest threat to Iraq's security and diplomats say Washington is impatient to confront them.

Several officials in the Shiite political parties that dominate Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's unity government also say they are losing patience with Al Sadr's supporters and predict more raids like last week's joint US-Iraqi operation in which a senior Al Sadr aide was killed.

"There will be limited and targeted operations against members of the Mehdi Army," a senior Shiite official said.

"The ground is full of surprises but we think around January 5 there will be some operations. I can say no more."

British forces in Basra have also been conducting major raids against groups they describe as "rogue Mehdi Army", some entrenched in Iraqi police units.

Last week, British troops blew up the headquarters of Basra's Major Crimes Unit and said they freed tortured prisoners.

"The Americans want a war with the Mehdi Army," said a Western diplomat in Baghdad, who was not American or British.