WAR: Moqtada al-Sadr Reported Injured in Siege of Najaf

At this moment it is being reported by several major news agencies that Moqtada al-Sadr has been injured in the siege of Najaf. This information comes just a day after US forces in the area launched a massive counter-attack against Sadr's forces in Iraq's holiest city. This attack has involved as many as 2000 American troops and 1800 Iraqi Army volunteers.

Whilst the extent of his injuries are unknown the cause is believed to be a firefight with US Marines in the area. We'll update as more comes in. al-Sadr is not exactly known for battlefield command skills, preferring to stay behind and direct operations. It appears he narrowly escaped capture earlier in the day after American forces stormed his house.



The offensive has threatened to inflame Iraq's Shiite majority and a possible deathblow against al-Sadr could set the already volatile situation into a bloody battle.

However, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani has "appealed for calm" in the area and is quoted as saying he would not have left the situation if he knew just how bad it would be.

Iraq's Interior Minister, Falah Naqib, denies that the cleric is injured and states that Muqtada is negotiating with the Iraqi government.

Injuries Denied

This is a developing story.

[edit on 8-13-2004 by Valhall]

[edit on 8-13-2004 by Valhall]

Al-Arabiya TV quoted a cleric's aide, Abdel Hadi al-Daraji, saying that al-Sadr was hurt during shelling, but he didn't say if the wounds were serious. He said al-Sadr was holed up in the shrine.

Amid concerns of damaging a muslim shrine fighting contines in Najaf a major operation has been undertaken against al-Sadr's militia. Troops taking the cleric's home could not locate him at that location. US officers say that no major resistance has been encounters and many residents have fled the city



The severity of al-Sadr's are not known. Will the cleric's death or severe injury curtail the fighting or will it incite his supporters to greater violence is a major question particularly if he dies and is seen as a martyr.

Related News Links:
www.voanews.com
www.reuters.com

[edit on 8-14-2004 by Valhall]

Martyrs all have one thing in common: They are dead. That being said there is going to be someone who steps in a rallys the troops. Better to take him alive.

His wounds were not life-threatening, that spokesman said.

Interior Ministry spokesman Col. Adnan Abd al-Rahman said he'd received reports al-Sadr was injured in his chest and leg, but could provide no further details.

Spokesmen quoted al-Sadr as telling his followers after he was wounded: "Act wisely, don't surrender to emotions."

Al-Sadr called on his supporters to continue their Jihad even if he dies a martyr, shortly after being wounded, reports said quoting a spokesman.

Al-Sadr said talks to defuse a standoff between his al-Mahdi Army and a joint Iraq-US force have reached no deal but will continue, the reports added.

Seems he is not bad off. He is inspiring his army to act on his behalf and continue fighting.

Al-Jazeera.net

Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr suffered shrapnel wounds to his arm and chest during Friday fighting in Najaf, according to spokesman Sayed Hazim al-Arajy in Baghdad.

www.cnn.com...

Looks like Muqtada was trying the old catch a bullet with the teeth trick.
external image

Yes!
Good job marines give it to that fat SOB. Its only a matter of time before we surround the mosque and Iraqi Army followed my Marines go in and finish the job.

Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr suffered shrapnel wounds to his arm and chest during Friday fighting in Najaf, according to spokesman Sayed Hazim al-Arajy in Baghdad.

www.cnn.com...

Looks like Muqtada was trying the old catch a bullet with the teeth trick.
external image

Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is unhurt and is negotiating with the government to leave the Imam Ali shrine in the city of Najaf, Iraq (news - web sites)'s Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib said on Friday.

"Sayyed Moqtada will not be touched if he leaves the shrine peacefully. A truce has been in force since last night," Naqib told Reuters

Sadr Unhurt, in Talks to Leave Najaf Shrine -Gov't



[edit on 13-8-2004 by Riwka]

This guy really pushed all the right buttons to piss the US off.
he must off just wanted to see how real soldiers fight.
At least hes holding talks instead off wasting lives in fighting.

Go Marines

Man comon why do they keep going back to this no cease fire they should have finished instead of giving him time to recover They have the mosque surrounded and they don't get him, now he is trying to delay the inevitable so he can heal. They are just giving him a chance to regroup.

I think they are giving him a chance to save face. I think that al-Sadr did not think that America had the gonads to go after him. Thank God we have Bush in the Whitehouse. 10 out of 10 terrorist say anybody but Bush in the Whitehouse.

I think the US would love to get there hands on him. alive. he may know things that the terroists plan to do thats why there after him the US know an attacks gonna happen on the US this guys in the area his of high importance.he may be talking to foriegn fighters. his weak willed dosnt want to die for his cause. get the psyops guys on to him he'll crack.