IRAQ: U.S. FORCES ENTER NAJAF TO PROTECT SPANISH TROOPS SET TO WITHDRAW FROM THE SHI'ITE HOLY CITY

Record ID: 646681

  • Title: IRAQ: U.S. FORCES ENTER NAJAF TO PROTECT SPANISH TROOPS SET TO WITHDRAW FROM THE SHI'ITE HOLY CITY
  • Date: 26th April 2004
  • Summary: (W6) NAJAF, IRAQ (APRIL 26, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE VIEW OF NAJAF / DOME OF THE NAJAF MOSQUE IN THE BACKGROUND 0.03 2. MV: SPANISH TROOP POSITIONS ON THE ROOF OF COALITION HEADQUARTERS BUILDING 0.07 3. WS: U.S. TROOPS IN THE COURTYARD / MILITARY VEHICLES 0.10 4. SLV: EL SALVADORIAN TROOPS RETURNING FROM PATROL 0.13 5. SCU: HOLE FROM MORTAR SHELL THAT HIT THE BUILDING THE PREVIOUS NIGHT 0.17 6. SCU: ANOTHER HOLE FROM A MORTAR 0.20 7. VARIOUS U.S. ARMY VEHICLES MOVING INTO COMPOUND (5 SHOTS) 0.41 8. SLV: SPANISH COMBAT VEHICLE 0.44 9. MORE U.S. TROOPS 0.47 10. WIDE VIEW OF ROAD LINKING NAJAF AND KUFA 0.51 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHIL KOSNETT, CPA CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE IN NAJAF PROVINCE, SAYING: "I think it is important for people to understand that the coalition has not left Najaf. The Coalition has had bases in the secular areas of Najaf throughout these past weeks. What is happening now is that Spanish troops are withdrawing and American troops are moving in to maintain the presence of bases and to demonstrate to the people of Najaf we have not forgotten them. Geographically this is quite distinct from the situation around the holy sites where coalition forces are keeping their distance." 1.24 12. SCU: SIGN READING: "INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE PLUS ULTRA" 1.27 13. CU: GRAFFITI ON WALL READING: "LEGION ESPANOLA" 1.30 14. U.S. SOLDIER TALKING TO SPANISH SOLDIER 1.33 15. U.S. TROOPS CARRYING SAND BAGS 1.38 16. WINDOWS BEING REINFORCED WITH SANDBAGS 1.41 17. U.S. SOLDIERS ON ROOFTOP 1.45 18. WIDE VIEW OF KUFA / KUFA MOSQUE IN THE BACKGROUND 1.50 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th May 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NAJAF, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA22WLADNL0QUBF52DL26O1ZIAZ
  • Story Text: U.S. forces enter Iraqi city of Najaf to cover
    Spanish withdrawal.


    U.S. forces entered Najaf on Monday (April 26) to
    protect Spanish troops set to withdraw from the Shi'ite
    holy city, where rebel Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is
    holed up with his militia.

    The base is about six kilometres from the Shi'ite holy
    shrines at Najaf's heart, which the U.S. military has
    vowed to stay away from to avoid outraging Iraq's majority
    Shi'ite Muslims.

    Spain, with some 1,300 troops, leads the Plus Ultra
    brigade in Iraq, a command that also includes forces from
    El Salvador, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

    The U.S. military said about 200 U.S. troops entered the
    southern city to take over a compound occupied by the
    Spanish troops, who had been guarding the headquarters of
    the U.S.-led governing authority in the city, 160 km (100
    miles) south of Baghdad.

    Spanish troops are expected to leave Najaf within days.

    Phil Kosnett, Coalition Provisional Authority Chief
    Representative in Najaf province said, "it is important for
    people to understand that the coalition has not left
    Najaf".

    He added: "The Coalition has had bases in the secular
    areas of Najaf throughout these past weeks. What is
    happening now is that Spanish troops are withdrawing and
    American troops are moving in to maintain the presence of
    bases and to demonstrate to the people of Najaf we have not
    forgotten them. Geographically this is quite distinct from
    the situation around the holy sites where coalition forces
    are keeping their distance."
    It was the first time U.S. forces had entered Najaf
    since they surrounded the city earlier this month
    threatening to move against Sadr followers. Iraq's leading
    Shi'ite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani had warned the
    United States against entering the city.

    U.S. forces have vowed to kill or capture Sadr, who has
    spearheaded an uprising against the U.S.-led occupation by
    his Mehdi Army militia and supporters.

    Sadr is wanted in connection with the murder of a
    moderate Iraqi cleric.

    New Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero
    said this month Madrid would withdraw its 1,400 troops from
    Iraq as soon as possible, fulfilling a pledge he made
    before his election last month.

    Spain was one of the strongest advocates of the
    U.S.-led war to oust Saddam Hussein. Honduras and the
    Dominican Republic have also said they would withdraw their
    troops from Iraq.


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