BAGHDAD, May 5, 2008

U.S. Heightens Fight With Shiite Militias

At Least Nine Militants Killed, Dozens Wounded In Baghdad Attacks

    • Relatives of Jabbar Hilal, a school guard, mourn during his funeral after he was killed in an airstrike in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City Monday, May 5, 2008.

      Relatives of Jabbar Hilal, a school guard, mourn during his funeral after he was killed in an airstrike in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City Monday, May 5, 2008.  (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

    • A man holds debris after an airstrike in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City Monday, May 5, 2008.

      A man holds debris after an airstrike in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City Monday, May 5, 2008.  (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

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(CBS/AP)  A U.S. Air Force gunship strafed Shiite extremists who attacked U.S. soldiers in Baghdad on Monday, and the military said it killed at least nine militants in recent clashes in the capital.

Iraqi health officials on Monday said 41 that people, including women and children, have been wounded since Sunday in the militia stronghold of Sadr City, where U.S. and Iraqi forces are battling the followers of radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

The military confirmed Monday that two Iraqi civilians were wounded in a Hellfire missile attack late Sunday in Baghdad's southwestern Aamel neighborhood and were evacuated to a military hospital.

Clashes erupted before noon Monday in the militia stronghold of Shula and heavy gunfire could be heard. Apache attack helicopters could be seen circling the center of Shula and U.S. armored vehicles blocked entrances into the neighborhood.

Earlier on Monday, U.S. soldiers called for air support after coming under fire from a rocket propelled grenade and small arms in Kazimiyah district. More than an hour later, one militant was killed with rounds from an AC-130 gunship, the military said.

The AC-130, a lethal tool used by the military since the Vietnam War, can slowly circle over a target for long periods.

Human rights groups have criticized their use in urban settings where militants may be among crowded populations of noncombatants. The four-engine gunships were also used to support the U.S. attack that took the western city of Fallujah from insurgents in November 2004.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have accused militants of using civilians as human shields during street battles that started more than six weeks ago following a government vow to crack down on the militias.

In other developments:

  • A bomb hit a motorcade carrying Iraq's first lady through Baghdad on Sunday, while the U.S. military said a roadside explosion killed four Marines in the deadliest attack in western Anbar province in months. The motorcade bombing in Baghdad's Karrada district injured four of Hiro Ibrahim Ahmed's bodyguards but left her unharmed, according to the office of her husband, President Jalal Talabani.

  • Iran said Monday it would not hold a new round of talks with the U.S. on security in Iraq until American forces end their current assault against Shiite militias. U.S. and Iraqi forces have been battling supporters of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and Iraq's government spokesman said Sunday that the crackdown would continue even if Iran pulled out of the talks. Meanwhile on Sunday, a top Iraqi official said Sunday there was no "conclusive" evidence that Shiite extremists have been directly supplied with some Iranian arms as alleged by the United States.

    © MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
    Add a Comment See all 278 Comments
    by telecom_1 May 8, 2008 1:26 AM EDT
    CBS hardly mentions Lebanon and the threat ---Hizbolah are suicidal terrorists they don''t care about Lebanon all they want is to destroy Israel. Hizbolah wants to martyr Lebanon to destroy Israel. Lebanon has a government and these suicidal terrorist of Hezbolah hates Lebanon and the leaders of Lebanon, thats why they assassinate them at every opportunity. Today Hezbolah launched a another fight against the Lebanese government in order to weaken Lebanon. Hezbolah is a criminal outlawed stockpiler of weapons they have a AK47 assault rifle on their flag.
    Reply to this comment
    by bgwinnett May 6, 2008 11:24 AM EDT
    Also, The Blame America First Crew...this one''''s like a cancer.

    Posted by bigjer2008 at 08:16 AM : May 06, 2008

    Yes independent thought is a terrifying prospect for those who can''t think.
    Reply to this comment
    by singingrick May 6, 2008 11:23 AM EDT



    Every Iraqi who was killed in this fight created two more who are determined to fight the U.S. occupation of Iraq.



    Reply to this comment
    by dorlockt May 6, 2008 11:16 AM EDT
    McVeigh was a Muslim? Ted Kaczynski, too? What about the FLN? Or the Simbanese Liberation Army? The KKK? The Michigan Militia? David Koresh?

    Posted by Nancy_Naive at 07:40 AM : May 06, 2008

    May I add the following too... Bader Meinhoff Brigade, Stern Gang, IRA, ETA, Tamil Tigers, FLNC, West Side Boys etc...

    Posted by bgwinnett at 08:08 AM : May 06, 2008


    Also, The Blame America First Crew...this one''s like a cancer.
    Reply to this comment
    by petro49l May 6, 2008 11:14 AM EDT
    Bin Laden is gay closet queen. He refuse to face Coalition. He is leader of Qada and Taliban. We are not intimidated by him. Osama should give this up. He cannot hide behind the cosmetics, lingerie, and spiked heels.
    Reply to this comment
    by bgwinnett May 6, 2008 11:08 AM EDT
    McVeigh was a Muslim? Ted Kaczynski, too? What about the FLN? Or the Simbanese Liberation Army? The KKK? The Michigan Militia? David Koresh?

    Posted by Nancy_Naive at 07:40 AM : May 06, 2008

    May I add the following too... Bader Meinhoff Brigade, Stern Gang, IRA, ETA, Tamil Tigers, FLNC, West Side Boys etc...
    Reply to this comment
    by bluestardad May 6, 2008 10:52 AM EDT
    NOW THE NEOCON NAZI GOON SQUAD IS DIRECTING OUR MILITARY AGAINST ANYONE IN IRAQ THAT WANTS FORIEN TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ!

    WHEN WILL THEY DIRECT THEM AGAINST AMERICANS IN AMERICA?

    START WAR CRIMES TRIALS NOW!

    AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!
    Reply to this comment
    by underdogus May 6, 2008 9:52 AM EDT
    Not all Muslims are members of Al Queda you pathetic Posted by MCVet. but all terrorist are muslims, you blabbering idiot..
    Reply to this comment
    by mcvet May 6, 2008 9:45 AM EDT
    Ever Democrat here joins their partners in IRAN and Al Qaeda in denouncing the American attacks on the good terrorists in IRAQ. Those terrorists are really good people who just chop peoples heads off and murder soldiers because they are mad a Bush. Its a stress refief action. Once Bush is gone they will not slaughter anywhere near as many women and children and we can go back to just hating America in general.


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    Posted by demslie at 05:59 AM : May 06, 2008
    + report abuse

    You Nazi''s haven''t changed at all.. you are still spouting the same bigotry as you did in 1964. Not all Muslims are members of Al Queda you pathetic LOSER!! These Shiite''s are NOT part of any group that Attacked this nation.. none at all. We attacked this nation you brain dead IDIOT. THAT''s right... there WERE no Terrorist there... we attacked it for the OIL. There was NO WEAPONS there you brain dead freak... WE attacked that nation for it''s OIL. Now you can keep up your Klan Chants I guess... continue to deny the facts and truth. That''s your right but the fact remains that WE ATTACKED this NATION for it''s OIL! Now let''s hear it loud and clear!! SIEG HEIL GRAND WIZARD!! Good Bootlicker!!
    Reply to this comment
    by mcvet May 6, 2008 9:39 AM EDT
    CBS should be tried for treason. This article is about the USA (the good guys) killing more radical Islamic maniacs who cut people''''s heads off and blow themselves up, yet the photos accompanying this article make it appear as though the USA is attacking innocent civilians.

    CBS should be vehemently ashamed of itself! Then again, we are talking about hate the USA/blame the USA for the world''''s problems central here!!


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    Posted by libagenda at 06:28 AM : May 06, 2008
    + report abuse

    Duh??? You poor simple minded Nazi! You just do not have a clue do you? Just a few days ago the man who want''s to become your fuhrer TOLD you fools this was had been about OIL... NO Terrorist, NO threats, NO freeing people... just about OIL. He said it as plain as you''d want to hear a politician say it, yet you freaks just keep on with the same tired attacks on anyone who will NOT march to the beat put out by the "Party". Honestly sometimes I think you fools are incapable of understanding any independent thought or reasoning. You are, all of you, so sad... so very very sad! Sieg Heil Bush
    Reply to this comment
    by demslie May 6, 2008 8:59 AM EDT
    Ever Democrat here joins their partners in IRAN and Al Qaeda in denouncing the American attacks on the good terrorists in IRAQ. Those terrorists are really good people who just chop peoples heads off and murder soldiers because they are mad a Bush. Its a stress refief action. Once Bush is gone they will not slaughter anywhere near as many women and children and we can go back to just hating America in general.
    Reply to this comment
    by May 6, 2008 6:34 AM EDT
    kesac4650 wrote:

    "Any of them, Shiite, or Sunni who want a fight need to be exterminated."

    Sounds like you should be up for a bit of extermination yourself.
    Reply to this comment
    by May 6, 2008 6:33 AM EDT
    JehovahWtnss wrote:

    "...would impose their oppressive religious thinking on everyone."

    Hmmmm - a Jehovah''s Witness calling others religions oppressive - the irony astounds me.

    Oh yeah, and STOP KNOCKING ON MY F$%KING DOOR.

    I have no time for religious freaks of ANY denomination.
    Reply to this comment
    by jehovahwtnss May 6, 2008 2:27 AM EDT
    I am interested to see that Lefeaoux still believes that it is worth sacrificing American lives for the average Iraqi even after doing some tours of duty there. From my experience of the Arab world, which I''m sure was a lot more comfortable than his, I have come to a completely different conclusion. Almost to a man, they view non muslims with utter contempt and if they could, would impose their oppressive religious thinking on everyone. I believe that we are in the midst of a new 30 years war, which we will unquestionably win when the US is pushed to the limit of its patience by some egregious act of toxic or nuclear terrorism and finally unleashes its own nuclear terror on that part of the world.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman May 6, 2008 2:17 AM EDT
    JoeCoolSwat,,,, Are you still here ?? Since you said you work in supply for Special Ops. Here''s a news article I just read to keep you updated on the drain on our military.

    Top US commando says strain of war limits forces elsewhere

    "We''re going to fewer countries, staying for shorter periods of time, with smaller numbers of people than historically we have done," Adm. Eric T. Olson said in his first interview since becoming commander of U.S. Special Operations Command last July.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080506/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/elite_warriors;_ylt=Aiv20Mo_NWOoPy5fK2sNgiys0NUE
    Reply to this comment
    by ajaxtheleast May 6, 2008 2:00 AM EDT
    WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE

    WE''LL HANDLE THE SAID

    THE HAGUE WILL HANDLE THE DONE.
    Reply to this comment
    by jerr11 May 6, 2008 1:46 AM EDT
    The fight goes on, please send more help President McCain to be !!!

    Posted by blackwater66 at 10:23 PM : May 05, 2008



    And more no-bid contracts, Blackwater and Halliburton need you!

    Reply to this comment
    by blackwater66-2009 May 6, 2008 1:23 AM EDT
    Many stand against us, but they will never win,
    We said we would return and here we are again.
    To bring them all destruction, suffering and pain,
    We are the hammer of the gods, we are thunder, wind and rain. The fight goes on, please send more help President McCain to be !!!
    Reply to this comment
    by underdogus May 6, 2008 1:18 AM EDT
    Underdogus, I,ve seen you post before Posted by kaviz..I have a fan club!! UNDERDOG always fighting for truth and justice and the American way!!
    Reply to this comment
    by harrydoghiny May 6, 2008 1:11 AM EDT
    So who are we fighting now, sockpuppets? This has never been about "terrorists", now we''re just killing Iraqis. Heckuva job, stay the course, 100 more years...
    Reply to this comment
    See all 278 Comments
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