Battle of Karbala (2007)

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Karbala (2007)
partof=the Iraq War


caption=
date=August 27 2007 – August 29, 2007
place=Karbala, Iraq
result= Cease-fire
combatant1=flagicon|Iraq Iraqi Security Forces
combatant2=Mahdi Army
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=
casualties2=
casualties3=52 killed (including 10 policemen)" [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C79827F4-77F9-40C9-AD6D-B255E6A1532E.htm Toll rises in Karbala fighting] ", Al Jazeera, 08-28-2007.] [ [http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrArticle=54183&NrIssue=2&NrSection=1 Aswat Aliraq ] ] The Battle of Karbala began on the night of August 27 2007 and involved fighting between the Mahdi Army, who provided security for the pilgrims [ [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1657449,00.html Iraq Militias Fighting For Supremacy |Time.com] ] , and police (who were largely members of the Badr Organization) in Karbala, Iraq.

Thousands of Shia pilgrims gathered in the city for the annual festival of Mid-Sha'ban. Security was high as pilgrims have been killed in previous years by suicide bombers.

Battle

Shooting first started on August 27. The government reacted by deploying more troops to the area.

The Al-Mahdi Army, a militia loyal to populist leader Muqtada al-Sadr, was accused by the interior ministry of attacking government forces in Karbala, the site of two shrines under the control of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC).

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki imposed a curfew on the morning of August 29 as fighting continued. Soon after, he claimed that the situation was under control." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6968236.stm Iraqi PM orders curfew in Karbala] ", BBC, 8-29-2007.] The curfew ordered pilgrims to leave their devotions early and ultimately failed to stop a third bout of shooting in the evening.

Trial

The head of the Mahdi Army in Karbala, Ali Sharia, was arrested and tried over the violence. In August 2008 he was convicted and sentenced to death. [ [http://www.metimes.com/Politics/2008/08/30/iraq_militia_chief_condemned_to_death_for_karbala_killings/afp/ Iraq militia chief condemned to death for Karbala killings] , "Agence France Presse", 2008-08-30, accessed on 2008-08-30]

References