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Iraq forces battle Basra militias Iraq forces battle Basra militias
(40 minutes later)
Heavy fighting has been raging in Basra following a major pre-dawn offensive by thousands of Iraqi troops against rival 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.
Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki is in Basra overseeing the operation, a day after he visited and vowed to "re-impose security, stability and law". 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".
Eyewitnesses spoke of plumes of smoke, explosions, tanks and artillery. Tanks and artillery are being used - with British troops providing air support to the Iraqi troops.
Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a turf war between armed groups, including the powerful 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 BBC's Adam Brookes says three Iraqi army brigades were deployed from Baghdad to Basra as back-up for Tuesday's operation, and that up to 15,000 troops could be involved. The Mehdi Army has called a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience in protest at arrests of its followers.
'Charge of the Knights''Charge of the Knights'
Coalition aircraft are patrolling the skies above Basra to help Iraqi forces if needed, British military spokesman Maj Tom Holloway told the BBC. The BBC's Adam Brookes says three Iraqi army brigades were deployed from Baghdad to Basra as back-up for Tuesday's operation, and that up to 15,000 troops could be involved.
He said the UK military, which returned control of Basra to the Iraqis in December and concentrated its forces at the city airport, had no troops involved in the operation. Coalition aircraft patrolling the skies above Basra have carried out air strikes to help the embattled Iraqi troops below.
Of the nine suspected known to have been killed so far, four died in street fighting and five in an air strike.
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 raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in BasraThe raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in Basra
It was being directed by the Iraqis and Mr Maliki was supervising it from an Iraqi military base at an undisclosed location in the city, the UK military said. He said: "This is good news. It's an indication of Iraqi self-reliance and confidence that they feel able to run this operation without MNF (Multi-national Forces) involvement."
Some of the fiercest fighting has reportedly involved the Mehdi Army, which is loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. The offensive was being directed by the Iraqis and Mr Maliki was supervising it from an Iraqi military base at an undisclosed location in the city, the UK military said.
The Iraqi army have been conducting raids across Basra, while routes into the city have been sealed off, according to reports. Some of the fiercest fighting has reportedly involved the powerful Mehdi Army, which is loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.
Officials at the city's hospitals said a number of casualties had been brought in. 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 Basra.
Routes into the city have been sealed off, according to reports, while hospital officials spoke of a number of casualties.
CurfewCurfew
At least four people had been killed and 18 wounded in the operation, which has been dubbed Saulat al-Fursan (Charge of the Knights), police told AFP news agency. The operation has been dubbed Saulat al-Fursan (Charge of the Knights), police told AFP news agency.
A military official in Basra told Reuters news agency: "Basra is half empty. There are no vehicles and no one is going to work. People are afraid to go out." 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.
The Mehdi Army called on Monday for a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience in protest at arrests of its followers.
Moqtada Sadr last month renewed a ceasefire the militia had been observing since last August, under which it pledged not to attack rival armed groups or American forces in Iraq.Moqtada Sadr last month renewed a ceasefire the militia had been observing since last August, under which it pledged not to attack rival armed groups or American forces in Iraq.
US military officials have publicly recognised the impact of the move in helping to stabilise parts of the country.US military officials have publicly recognised the impact of the move in helping to stabilise parts of the country.
But the truce is said to have come under strain in recent weeks as US and Iraqi forces detain militia members they accuse of belonging to renegade factions.But the truce is said to have come under strain in recent weeks as US and Iraqi forces detain militia members they accuse of belonging to renegade factions.
And there have been a number of assassinations and kidnappings in Basra, as armed groups vie for control of lucrative oil-smuggling routes, say correspondents.And there have been a number of assassinations and kidnappings in Basra, as armed groups vie for control of lucrative oil-smuggling routes, say correspondents.
The oil fields in the Basra area are the source of most of Iraq's revenues.The oil fields in the Basra area are the source of most of Iraq's revenues.
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