Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Operations
Deployments
US Policy
United Nations
Reconstruction Issues
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 13 Aug 2004 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty

• MNF Operating Under Firm Instructions Concerning Operations in Najaf MNF-I/MNC-I 13 Aug 2004 -- Clearing operations by Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces today in Najaf continue to further isolate the militia and restore control of the city to the government and people of Najaf. Forces have not participated in actions at or near the Imam Ali and Kufa Mosques.
• ISF lead the way in raid on Muqtada Militia MNF-I/MNC-I 13 Aug 2004 -- Security Forces (ISF) , augmented by Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted a raid before dawn today on Muqtada Militia troops using a mosque in Kufa as a militant stronghold. The ISF, who entered and cleared the building of militia members, were supported by Marines who remained outside the mosque the entire time, and provided a security cordon around the building to prevent militants from reinforcing or escaping.
• IRAQ WRAP VOA 13 Aug 2004 -- Iraqi officials are negotiating with radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to end nine days of bloodshed in the holy city of Najaf. A British journalist wounded and kidnapped by unidentified gunmen is released but an Egyptian hostage has been beheaded. Despite the violence, Iraq's interim government is going ahead with a national conference on Sunday to help sort out the country's political future.
• Military Cannot Confirm Radical Cleric Wounded in Najaf AFPS 13 Aug 2004 -- The multinational force in Iraq cannot confirm reports that radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr had been wounded during a week of intense fighting in Najaf, a spokesman said today in a written statement.
• Iraqi Militants Abduct British Reporter RFE/RL 13 Aug 2004 -- Reports say Iraqi militants have kidnapped a British journalist in the southern city of Al-Basrah and threaten to kill him if the U.S.-led assault on the holy Shi'a city of Al-Najaf is not stopped within 24 hours.
• Al-Sadr Injured In Al-Najaf Fighting RFE/RL 13 Aug 2004 -- A spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr today said the Iraqi radical Shi'ite cleric has been injured during fighting with U.S. forces in the holy Shi'ite city of Al-Najaf.
• Sensitivity Grows Over Confrontations in Iraq's Al-Najaf RFE/RL 13 Aug 2004 -- The situation in the Iraqi holy city is growing continually more sensitive as U.S. and Iraqi forces battle fighters loyal to Shi'a cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Shi'ites revere Al-Najaf and the mosque as holy sites and the fighting has set off protests in other Iraqi cities and has drawn criticism from Muslim leaders in other countries.

Deployments

US Policy

• Army Specialist arraigned on charges MNF-I/MNC-I 13 Aug 2004 -- On Aug. 11, Specialist Megan Ambuhl was arraigned on charges related to prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
• Soldier arraigned on prisoner abuse charges MNF-I/MNC-I 13 Aug 2004 -- A Soldier who worked in the Abu Ghurayb prison was arraigned Aug. 11 on charges related to prisoner abuse at the prison.

• POWELL / IRAQ VOA 13 Aug 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says U.S. forces are trying to "stabilize" the situation in the Iraqi city of Najaf while avoiding harm to the Imam Ali Mosque, the holiest shrine in Shia Islam. In comments Friday, Mr. Powell said it is the fault of Iraqi extremists that an "Olympic truce" is not being observed in Iraq.
• U.S. Seeks Stabilization in Najaf Without Involving Shrine Washington File 13 Aug 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says coalition and Iraqi forces are trying to stabilize and end the fighting in Najaf, Iraq, without involving the Imam Ali shrine, one of the holiest sites in Shiite Islam.

United Nations

• Top UN envoy for Iraq arrives on first visit, calls for end to fighting in Najaf UN News Centre 13 Aug 2004 -- The top United Nations envoy for Iraq arrived in Baghdad today for his first visit since his appointment last month to oversee what Security Council resolutions have called the world body's vital role in rehabilitating the war-torn country.
• Annan offers UN help to end fighting in Iraqi holy city of Najaf UN News Centre 13 Aug 2004 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today offered the world body's help to end the current fighting in Iraq, particularly in the holy Shiite Muslim city of Najaf.

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraq's National Conference to be held Sunday: say Iraqi sources IRNA 13 Aug 2004 -- Iraq`s National Conference is scheduled to be held on Sunday, sources quoted Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi as saying on Friday.

Foreign Reactions

• UKRAINE/RUMSFELD VOA 13 Aug 2004 -- Ukraine has told the visiting U.S. defense secretary that its contingent of troops in Iraq will remain in that country for the forseeable future.
• Najaf Governor says negotiations continue IRNA 13 Aug 2004 -- Najaf province Governor General Adnan Alzarfi said negotiations between representatives of government and Moqtada Al-Sadr which started on Friday noon, continues.
• Iraq security official says wants to meet Sadr to talk cease-fire IRNA 13 Aug 2004 -- Iraq`s national security advisor Mowaffaq al-Rubaie said here on Friday that he wants to meet cleric Moqtada Sadr to talk about ending clashes in the holy city of Najaf.
• Cleric says US measures in Iraq meant to sideline Muslims IRNA 13 Aug 2004 -- Secretary of the Guardians Council (GC) Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said here on Friday that the recent US measures in Iraq that have started from the holy city of Najaf are meant to sideline Muslims from Iraq`s political arena.
• Hakim: SCIRI ready to mediate in Najaf conflict IRNA 13 Aug 2004 -- It was reported here on Friday that the head of Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) Abdul Aziz Hakim has suggested to mediate between Moqtada Sadr and Iraqi interim government to stop war in Najaf.
• Ayatollah Sistani calls for immediate end to clashes in Iraq IRNA 13 Aug 2004 -- London office of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani in a statement on Thursday called on all sides engaged in the fighting in the holy city of Najaf to end clashes as soon as possible.
• Iraqi Government Denies Reports Al-Sadr Wounded RFE/RL 13 Aug 2004 -- The Iraqi government is denying reports that radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was injured today during fighting with U.S. forces in the holy city of Al-Najaf.

News Reports

• IRAQ/CONFERENCE VOA 13 Aug 2004 -- A thousand delegates are to meet at a national conference in Baghdad on Sunday to choose a special council. It will monitor the activities of the interim government and serve as a sort of watchdog. The meeting was supposed to happen two weeks ago, but the organizers delayed it at the request of the United Nations.
• 165 Iraqis killed in Najaf clashes, reports Health Ministry IRNA 13 Aug 2004 -- Recent clashes in the city of Najaf have so far left 165 Iraqis killed and 600 wounded, Iraq`s Ministry of Health reported in a statement on Friday.
• Deputy says Sadr suffering no serious wound, keeping high morale IRNA 13 Aug 2004 -- Sources close to the Iraqi Shi`ite cleric Moqtada Sadr said here on Friday that contrary to media reports on Sadr`s health, he is now feeling good and that his wounds are not serious.
• Tense military atmosphere lingers in Holy Najaf, although fighting slows down IRNA 13 Aug 2004 -- US Apache helicopters kept flying over the war-stricken Najaf throughout Friday morning and the tense military atmosphere that has haunted this city holy city lingered, although the military clashes have slowed down.