Iraq: On Ground Updates - June 14, 2008

Iraq: On Ground Updates
Iraqi Security Forces poised for assault against Mahdi Army in Southern Shiite City of Amara
Saturday, June 14, 2008

* AFP.Google.com brings us this report this evening and it starts off like this... Iraqi forces backed by US troops have poured into the southern Shiite city of Amara in a fresh offensive to drive militiamen out of the violence-wracked area, security officials said on Saturday... Large numbers of heavily-armed soldiers have taken up positions in and around the city ahead of an operation that local police said would target "outlaws".... "Many Iraqi and American troops are everywhere inside and outside Amara waiting for the start of the security operation," a local police official told AFP. "The operations will target outlaws."...
Read the full report HERE

* LATimes.com reports it this way... Iraqi security forces began to move into the southern city of Amarah on Saturday, and residents braced for the latest government offensive against the Mahdi Army militia loyal to Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada Sadr...
Read the rest HERE

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We also find this in the news today out of Iraq...
A different battle occurred in northeastern Iraq June 11th -- one of unconventional methods in an unconventional “war.”... In this military operation, no body-armor was necessary and no shots were fired. The goal was friendship – and, scoring a few, for the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, in a game of soccer against a team of Sons of Iraq members in Riyadh, Iraq...
Read the rest at MNF-Iraq.com