Coalition Forces Seize Weapons, Rebels in Najaf, Ministers Say(1200 POWs?)

[psychopomp]

Coalition Forces Seize Weapons, Rebels in Najaf, Ministers Say

Aug. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition forces in Najaf have captured weapons and about 1,200 militiamen as they battle with insurgents loyal to Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al- Sadr for an eighth day, Iraqi defense and interior ministers said in a televised press conference in Baghdad.

Al-Sadr's militia, known as the Mahdi Army, last Thursday began an insurgency against Iraqi and coalition forces in southern cities including Najaf, where they occupy the Imam Ali Mosque, the holiest Shiite Muslim site in Iraq. Insurgents earlier fired 25 mortars from within the courtyard of the mosque, according to an e-mailed statement from the U.S. military in Baghdad.

Military operations in Najaf will continue to take place until thes fighters evacuate the holy shrine, the Iraqi ministers said in translated comments at the press conference aired by Cable News Network.

The interim administration of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has struggled to rein in violence since taking sovereignty of Iraq from the U.S.-led coalition on June 28. Insurgents have targeted officials and security forces in attacks across the country. More than 200 people have been killed nationwide in the past two days, Health Ministry spokesman Saad al-Amily said today and yesterday in telephone interviews from Baghdad.

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The "(i)nsurgents earlier fired 25 mortars from within the courtyard" line from our military may be an effort to build a case for attacking the mosque itself. Of course, it is probably true. Unlike the 1200 captured, however. All have been commanded by Sadr to fight to the last man so it is implausible that such a large number would have surrendered. Even more so given that our troops are likely hard-pressed to deal with such a large number of surrendering men as it is in Najaf.

[havocmom]

1. Surrender can be a very helpful tactic

as your opponet now has to divert manpower and other resources to keeping prisoners. And one would do well to consider that some of those 'surrendered' men might be well trained to work from inside to do much damage.

[Kagemusha]

2. Are these the same 1200 as last week or a new 1200?

I can't keep track.

[psychopomp]

3. Excellent point

Probably the same, since this is undoubtedly a PR move on the part of the puppet government. Likely to be a recycling of the same statement from the onset of the battle in Najaf.