Fighting Continues Despite Ceasefire in Sadr City

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Fighting Continues Despite Ceasefire in Sadr City

U.S. Soldiers in Iraq

SHIA–SUNNI CEASEFIRE? Yesterday, the Iraqi government and anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr signed a four-day ceasefire agreement. Just a few hours later, violence erupted in Sadr City between Shiite militants and U.S. forces, leaving 11 dead and 20 injured.

by Thea Deley
Informify Staff Writer
May 14, 2008

The continuing turmoil between Sunnis and Shiites centers on Sadr City, a crowded slum in Baghdad, Iraq. Over the last two months fighting between U.S.-backed Iraqi forces and Shiite militants have killed about 1,000 people and wounded more than 2,000.

Roadside Bombs Targeted U.S. Forces

Militia attacked U.S. troops and U.S.-backed Iraqi troops in three separate attacks Sunday and Monday. The Americans shot back and killed three people:

Missile strike killed two militants planting a bomb.
Gunfire killed one militant planting a roadside bomb.
Tank and aircraft fire quelled other attacks.

At this time it’s not clear if the Mahdi led these attacks or if splinter groups did.

Ceasefire Agreement

Saturday’s ceasefire agreement contains 14 conditions that both sides agreed to, including:

Iraqi government takes control of Sadr City
Militias put down their arms or leave Sadr City
City swept clean of roadside bombs and mines

The United States was not part of the ceasefire negotiations.

Not the First Time a Ceasefire Broken in Sadr City

Although a ceasefire was in effect before, it began unraveling in March when the Mahdi Army launched attacks against U.S. forces and the U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces. Immediately, Iraqi Prime Minster Nouri al-Maliki, himself a Shiite, ordered a crackdown on all militias.

Students of al-Sadr formed the Mahdi Army in 2003 in response to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. When U.S. forces tried to arrest al-Sadr and banned his newspaper, his followers rebelled. The Mahdi militia led the first armed uprising against U.S. forces. The confrontation lasted from April to June 2004.

Sources

Baghdad clashes break ceasefire (BBC, 5/13/08)

5 Iraqi soldiers die in Mosul roadside bombing (CNN, 5/13/08)

Profile: The Mahdi Army (Aljazeera, 4/20/08)

Question for Readers:

Since both sides said they wouldn’t implement the ceasefire until today, do you think the fighting Monday violated the ceasefire?

"When you hear news of agreements or negotiations, and even if news channels and stations broadcast news about a withdrawal or something of the sort, you have to stand firm and not abandon your positions until you hear another statement from the Imam Mahdi Army's command."

—statement distributed by Mahdi militia to its members Saturday
(CNN, 5/13/08)

A Brief Story of Sadr

Sadr City is a poverty-stricken suburb of Baghdad, and a major stage for fighting.
It is home to a large segment of Baghdad’s Shiite Muslims.
It is the stronghold of anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Al-Sadr is the spiritual and military leader of the militia known as the Mahdi Army.
Originally a grassroots militia to protect Shiites against violent Sunni insurgents, al-Sadr now uses the Mahdi Army to control southern Iraq.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is determined to disarm Baghdad’s Shia militia groups, including the Mahdi.