May 06, 2004

U.S. Forces Kill 41 Sadr Fighters Near Najaf

U.S. troops killed 41 members of rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's militia in a firefight east of Najaf on Thursday and recaptured the governor's office in the city, a senior coalition military official said.

"We have resecured the governor's building and we intend to have the governor reoccupy it to have the coalition retake control of the city," the official said of the office on the edge of the Iraqi city which is holy to Shi'ite Muslims.

The recapture of the building was largely unopposed, he said.

U.S. forces also pushed to the east of Najaf, across the Euphrates River, resulting in heavy clashes with Sadr's Mehdi Army militia in which 41 fighters were killed, the official said.

He gave no details of U.S. casualties. U.S. forces have had Sadr and many of his militia fighters surrounded in the city for nearly a month.

Plumes of smoke rose from a cemetery on the fringes of the city as U.S. helicopters swooped low over the area. U.S. forces say they will refrain from entering Shi'ite shrines in the city, which would incite widespread fury.

I don't know about "inciting the...widespread fury."
These Shiites seem pretty hot-headed and easily infuriated no matter what.
All in all, though, I'd say that this was a good day for the USA and the Coalition!
Great work, GI Joes and Janes!