Minor engagement in Sadr City while searching for missing U.S. soldier

A U.S. Army soldier from 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Division provides security during a cordon and search mission in Baghdad, Iraq, Oct. 1, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mike Buytas. Click image to view.

U.S. forces have yet again entered Sadr City, and had a brief battle with Iranian proxy Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army. "There was a short exchange of fire with members of the Mahdi Army when US forces equipped with armoured vehicles reached "Sector 28" in the heart of the slum area just as crowds were leaving Friday prayer," reports AFP. No casualties were reported in the short gunfight.

U.S. troops entered Sadr City under the guise of searching for the missing Iraqi-borne U.S. soldier who was kidnapped earlier in the week "after he left the heavily fortified Green Zone without permission from his commanders and went to visit relatives living the city." Lieutenant Colonel Chris Garver, the U.S. spokesman Baghdad, intimated that further operation are in the works. "Iraqi and coalition forces continue to conduct operations in order to recover the missing soldier," said Lt.Col. Chris Garver. The prior raid in Sadr City, which targeted Abu Dura, was followed up with a raid on a mosque in search of the missing soldier.

Sadr continues to maintain the violence is stemming from "rogue elements" of his Mahdi Army. "The revolting and disobedience to the leadership has divided us and brought us many enemies," said Sheikh Jaber al-Khafaji, a Sadr cleric, during Friday prayers. While this is certainly an attempt to hide Sadr's role in the sectarian violence, the choice of words is interesting. Sadr is now worried about his "many enemies."