Report: Iraqi Shi'ite militia ready head to Lebanon to fight
RAW STORY
Published:
Monday July 24, 2006
Print This | Email This According to a report in today's Washington Times, a squadron is being formed among Iraqi Shi'ite militia members to go to Lebanon. The forces plan to support the Hezbollah insurgents in their ongoing incursions with Israel. As many as 1,500 are expected to join the squadron.
Excerpts from the registration restricted article follow:
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A senior member of Muqtada al-Sadr's Iraqi Shi'ite militia, the Mahdi Army, says the group is forming a squadron of up to 1,500 elite fighters to go to Lebanon.
The plan reflects the potential of the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah to strengthen radical elements in Iraq and neighboring countries and to draw other regional players into the Lebanon conflict.
"We are choosing the men right now," said Abu Mujtaba, who works in the loosely organized following of radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. "We are preparing the right men for the job."
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Sheik al-Sadr's black-clad armed militia numbers in the thousands, operates throughout central and southern Iraq and is thought to be responsible for numerous killings of Sunnis.
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