SENIOR ISF OFFICERS KILLED IN NASIRIYAH CLASHES

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 000149 SIPDIS SIPDIS 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 SIPDIS 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