Battle of Karbala (2007)

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Battle of Karbala (2007)
Part of the Iraq War
Date August 27, 2007 – August 29, 2007 Location Karbala, Iraq Result Cease-fire
Belligerents
Iraqi Security Forces	Mahdi Army
Casualties and losses
52 killed (including 10 policemen)[1][2]

v • d • e Iraq War Invasion – Post-invasion (Insurgency – Civil war) Battles & operations – Bombings and terrorist attacks

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^[3], 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.

[edit] 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).^[1]

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.^[4] The curfew ordered pilgrims to leave their devotions early and ultimately failed to stop a third bout of shooting in the evening.

[edit] References