SENIOR ISF OFFICERS KILLED IN NASIRIYAH CLASHES

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 000149

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV IR IZ
SUBJECT: SENIOR ISF OFFICERS KILLED IN NASIRIYAH CLASHES

Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Greg D'Elia due to reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Several senior Iraqi Security Forces (ISF)
officers died during January 19 clashes between members of
Jund al-Sima'a (Army of Heaven - JAS) and ISF. Although the
situation now appears to have stabilized, the killing of
several ISF leaders raises questions about the nature of the
disturbance, including the possibility of Jaysh al-Mahdi
(JAM) involvement, and the future stability of Dhi Qar
province. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Fighting initially broke out at approximately 1300
when police tried to prevent JAS members from carrying
weapons during a demonstration commemorating the holiday of
ashura. JAS members, wearing yellow headbands and carrying
weapons, including RPGs and BKC machine guns, refused to
disarm and began firing at the ISF. One eyewitness said a
JAS member yelled "The Imam Mahdi is returning today and we
wish to fight the apostates at his side!" Snipers also fired
at the ISF from nearby rooftops. The ISF, including the
Iraqi Police, the Tactical Support Unit (TSU),the Rapid
Deployment Brigade, and the Iraqi National Guard,
counterattacked and eventually regained control of the
streets. JAS retreated into a school and adjacent building
only to be surrounded and subdued by ISF.


3. (SBU) A number of senior ISF officers were killed or
seriously wounded in the attacks. TSU commander Col. Naji
al-Jibari (Abu Luka) was killed and Dhi Qar Head of
Operations BG Rahim Jasim is in critical condition and
receiving medical care at Talil AFB. After the initial
clashes a group of extremists attacked a police intelligence
office with light and medium weapons, leading to another
round of fighting in which Col. Zimal Ramid Maoud, an
intelligence officer, was killed. The commander of the Rapid
Deployment Brigade, Brig. Abd al-Amir Jibar, was seriously
injured when his unit responded to the fighting. Casualty
estimates vary wildly but are decreasing with subsequent news
accounts. A newspaper article published on January 20 stated
the death toll at 29 civilians and ISF members and 19
followers of JAS.


4. (S) Comment: JAS (sometimes known as Ansar al-Mahdi, or
Supporters of the Mahdi) is a militant spiritual movement led
by Ahmad Hassan al-Basri, who calls himself 'the Yemini.'
The group believes that the return of the mahdi, or 12th
Imam, is near, and that Basri is an ambassador of the mahdi.
During the 2007 commemoration of Ashura over 260 JAS members
were killed in fighting between JAS and ISF and coalition
forces (CF) in Najaf and Karbala.
Shi'a movements such as JAS have appeared with greater
frequency in the south since the overthrow of the previous
regime.


5. (S) Comment C'td: The killings of a number of senior ISF
officers does not bode well for future stability in Dhi Qar.
The fact that most of those killed were anti-JAM officers
also raises questions as to whether the disturbance served as
a cover for the planned assassinations of key ISF leaders by
JAM. Several JAM associates wanted Abu Luka dead due to the
TSU's operations against JAM, including the recent arrest of

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former JAM commander Ali Shlewet. As early as May 2006 Aws
al-Khafaji, a spiritual leader and former JAM commander, had
issued standing orders to kill Abu Luka. End Comment.
CROCKER