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Iraq forces battle Basra militias Iraq forces battle Basra militias
(about 1 hour later)
Heavy fighting has been raging in Basra as thousands of Iraqi troops battle Shia militias in the southern city.Heavy fighting has been raging in Basra as thousands of Iraqi troops battle Shia militias in the southern city.
At least nine people have died in the operation, which is being overseen in Basra by Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki, a day after he vowed to "re-impose law". At least 12 people have died in the operation, which is being overseen in Basra by Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki, a day after he vowed to "re-impose law".
Tanks and artillery are being used - with British forces providing air support to the Iraqi troops. British forces carried out air strikes to support embattled Iraqi army tanks and artillery on the ground.
Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a bitter turf war between armed groups, including the Mehdi Army, say analysts.Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a bitter turf war between armed groups, including the Mehdi Army, say analysts.
The Mehdi Army - which supports radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - called a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience against recent arrests of its followers. The Mehdi Army - which supports radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - called a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience in response to recent detentions of its followers.
Militias have taken over almost the city and law and order has collapsed, although it is not a hopeless case because the government is taking measures to reverse the situation Hoshyar ZebariIraqi Foreign Minister Who are the Mehdi Army?
The powerful militia declared a truce last August which had been credited with helping restore stability to parts of Iraq.The powerful militia declared a truce last August which had been credited with helping restore stability to parts of Iraq.
Air strikes The BBC's Adam Brookes says three Iraqi army brigades were deployed from Baghdad to Basra as back-up for the offensive, and that up to 15,000 troops could be involved.
The BBC's Adam Brookes says three Iraqi army brigades were deployed from Baghdad to Basra as back-up for the operation, and that up to 15,000 troops could be involved.
Coalition aircraft patrolling the skies above Basra have carried out air strikes to help the embattled Iraqi troops below.
The raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in Basra
Some of the fiercest fighting in the operation - dubbed Saulat al-Fursan (Charge of the Knights) - has focused on Mehdi Army strongholds.Some of the fiercest fighting in the operation - dubbed Saulat al-Fursan (Charge of the Knights) - has focused on Mehdi Army strongholds.
Of the nine suspected militants known to have been killed so far, four died in street fighting and five in an air strike. Of the suspected militants known to have been killed so far, four died in street fighting and five in a coalition air strike.
British military spokesman Maj Tom Holloway told the BBC no UK troops were involved on the ground.British military spokesman Maj Tom Holloway told the BBC no UK troops were involved on the ground.
The UK military returned control of Basra to the Iraqis in December and concentrated its forces at the city airport.The UK military returned control of Basra to the Iraqis in December and concentrated its forces at the city airport.
Curfews have been imposed in several southern Iraqi cities
The Iraqi commander in charge, Lt Gen Ali Ghaidan, said the operation aimed to purge Basra of what he called "outlaws".The Iraqi commander in charge, Lt Gen Ali Ghaidan, said the operation aimed to purge Basra of what he called "outlaws".
He said his forces had confiscated weapons and roadside bombs during raids across Iraq's second city.He said his forces had confiscated weapons and roadside bombs during raids across Iraq's second city.
Routes into Basra have been sealed off, according to reports.Routes into Basra have been sealed off, according to reports.
One resident of the city told the BBC: "The streets are very dangerous, there's continuous exchange of fire in areas very close to my house, even though my neighbourhood is relatively safer than others."
CurfewCurfew
One Basra resident told the BBC: "The streets are very dangerous, there's continuous exchange of fire in areas very close to my house, even though my neighbourhood is relatively safer than others."
The offensive comes a day after the authorities in Basra imposed an indefinite night-time curfew.The offensive comes a day after the authorities in Basra imposed an indefinite night-time curfew.
Moqtada Sadr last month renewed its ceasefire, under which it pledged not to attack rival armed groups or American forces in Iraq. On Tuesday, police also imposed curfews in the southern Iraqi cities of Kut and Nasiriya, amid reports of clashes there between gunmen and security forces.
But the truce is said to have come under strain in recent weeks as US and Iraqi forces detained militia members. Moqtada Sadr called in a statement for Iraqis to stage "sit-ins" and threatened to declare a "civil revolt" if attacks by US and Iraqi forces did not stop.
On Tuesday, police also imposed a curfew in the southern Iraqi city of Kut, amid reports of clashes between gunmen and security forces.
In Baghdad's Sadr City, Mehdi Army fighters reportedly ordered Iraqi police and soldiers out of the district.In Baghdad's Sadr City, Mehdi Army fighters reportedly ordered Iraqi police and soldiers out of the district.
Hundreds of protesters marched in Baghdad to launch a campaign of civil disobedience, calling on shops to shut. The raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in Basra
Moqtada Sadr said in a statement: "We call upon all Iraqis to stage sit-ins all over Iraq as a first step. Hundreds of protesters marched in the Iraqi capital to launch a campaign of civil disobedience, calling on shops to shut.
"And if the people's demands are not respected by the Iraqi government, the second step will be to declare civil revolt in Baghdad and all other provinces." Moqtada Sadr last month renewed the group's ceasefire, under which it pledged not to attack rival armed groups or American forces in Iraq.
In recent months there have been a number of assassinations and kidnappings in Basra, as armed groups vie for control of lucrative oil-smuggling routes, say correspondents. But the truce is said to have come under strain in recent weeks as US and Iraqi forces detained militia members.
The oil fields around the Basra area are the source of most of Iraq's revenues. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the BBC: "Militias have taken over almost the city and law and order has collapsed, although it is not a hopeless case because the government is taking measures to reverse the situation.
/> 		"Remember, Basra is the lifeline of Iraq. Most of Iraq's oil exports go through Basra."
Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: The oilfields around the Basra area are the source of most of Iraq's revenues.
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