IRAQ: U.S. FORCES CEASE OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS IN NAJAF BUT MAINTAIN A HEAVY MILITARY PRESENCE ON THE CITY'S STREETS

Record ID: 590698

  • Title: IRAQ: U.S. FORCES CEASE OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS IN NAJAF BUT MAINTAIN A HEAVY MILITARY PRESENCE ON THE CITY'S STREETS
  • Date: 13th August 2004
  • Summary: (U6) NAJAF, IRAQ (AUGUST 13, 2004) (REUTERS ACCESS ALL) 1. WS: U.S TANK ON STREET 0.11 2. CU: OF TANK TURRET WITH SOLDIER ATOP 0.19 3. MLV/TRACK: SOLDIERS PATROLLING STREET 0.32 4. VARIOUS: HUMVEES DRIVING PAST 0.46 5. SCU/MLV: US SOLDIER DRINKING WATER FROM PLASTIC BOTTLE (2 SHOTS) 1.06 6. CU: OF SOLDIER'S RIFLE 1.10 7. VARIOUS: SOLDIERS SEARCHING CARS (2 SHOTS) 1.19 8. LAS: TANK DRIVING AWAY 1.30 9. CU/WS: HUMVEE DRIVING OFF 1.39 10. SCU: SOUNDBITE: (English) CAPTAIN TWADELL SAYING: " We have currently ceased offensive military operations in the city of Najaf. Right now we are holding ourselves relatively quiet, other than that I don't have any information on Moqtada Al-Sadr. There have been one or two demonstrations, but they have been peaceful and proceeded on their way". 2.22 11. LV/WS: OF SOLDIERS AND ARMOURED VEHICLES ON ROAD 2.26 12. VARIOUS: OF SOLDIERS (2 SHOTS) 2.36 13. CU: OF TURRET ON U.S TANK 2.42 14. CU: OF SOLDIER, PROFILE SHOT 2.48 15. TRACK: HUMVEE DRIVING AWAY 2.58 16. CU: OF U.S. TANK AS DUSK APPROACHES 3.04 17. LV: SOLDIERS PATROLLING ROAD ON FOOT 3.14 18. TRAVELLING SHOT: OF ROAD IN NAJAF WITH HEAVY U.S. ARMY PRESENCE 3.32 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 28th August 2004 13:00
  • Keywords: checkpoint; bradley fighting vehicle; humvee; patrol; tank; US soldiers; troops
  • Location: NAJAF, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA9WA2YX7JGV94YVUJ5W2THDB19
  • Story Text: U.S forces cease offensive operations in Najaf.




    A fragile truce was holding in Najaf late on Friday
    (August 13) where al-Sadr was said to have been wounded in
    fighting.

    Iraq's interim government said Shi'ite cleric Moqtada
    al-Sadr was negotiating to leave a shrine in Najaf as
    thousands of protesters across southern Iraq condemned a
    U.S. offensive in the holy city.

    Demonstrators gathered in seven cities in Iraq to vent
    their anger at the assault on Sadr's forces launched by
    U.S. marines on Thursday (August 12), amid conflicting
    reports over whether the firebrand cleric had been wounded
    during the fighting.

    By evening, witnesses said U.S. soldiers had withdrawn
    from positions near Sadr's house in Najaf, which they
    raided on Thursday during their offensive on fighters
    around the Imam Ali mosque and the city's cemetery,
    strongholds for Sadr's men.

    " We have currently ceased operations in the city of Najaf.

    Right now we are holding ourselves relatively quiet, other
    than that I don't have any information on Moqtada Al-Sadr.

    There have been one or two demonstrations, but they have
    been peaceful and proceeded on their way", said Captain
    Twadell of the U.S army.

    Interior Minister Naqib denied Sadr was wounded and
    said a truce had been in force since last night. He said
    the government was negotiating Sadr's departure from the
    revered Imam Ali shrine, where he has been holed up with
    his fighters.



  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register