Members of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) prepare before going out on a patrol in the town of Jurf al-Sakhar, south of Baghdad. Reuters
Iraq Chases Baghdad Sleeper Cells As 'Zero Hour' Looms Over Capital -- Reuters
(Reuters) - Iraqi insurgents are preparing for an assault on Baghdad, with sleeper cells planted inside the capital to rise up at "Zero Hour" and aid fighters pushing in from the outskirts, according to senior Iraqi and U.S. security officials.
Sunni fighters have seized wide swathes of the north and west of the country in a three week lightning advance and say they are bearing down on the capital, a city of 7 million people still scarred by the intense street fighting between its Sunni and Shi'ite neighbourhoods during U.S. occupation.
The government says it is rounding up members of sleeper cells to help safeguard the capital, and Shi'ite paramilitary groups say they are helping the authorities. Some Sunni residents say the crackdown is being used to intimidate them.
Iraqis speak of a "Zero Hour" as the moment a previously-prepared attack plan would start to unfold.
Read more ....
Update: Iraq Crisis: Sleeper Cells Prepare 'Zero Hour' Baghdad Uprising to Co-ordinate with Sunni Attack -- IBTimes
My Comment: The tension in Baghdad must be through the roof.
4 comments:
Does anyone believe that the "sleeper cells" could do anything more than start sectarian fighting in Baghdad, cause some discomfort and subsequently cause any Sunnis in Baghdad to be ethnically cleansed?
At least that is my take. I could be wrong.
I would like to know what others thing and why? I would like to especially like to to know the why parts as all I have is OSI and I know there is a lot I do not know.
I think ISIS is playing on the nerves of government forces in Baghdad. Rattle them and see who runs. Note that ole Moqtada Sadr and his boys have been very quiet the last few days (he may have already run) and there have been no more big Shia militia marches, at least none publicized. ISIS, especially the ex-Baathist wing probably wants Baghdad badly. The psychological and publicity value to them is probably an imperative. The caliphate wing prizes it for historical religious reasons. Once Baghdad falls (which I think ti will) it becomes dicey for ISIS. Baghdad is probably as far south their fifth column urban support groups effectively exist. The ex-Baathists would be luke warm on venturing farther south. ISIS's rear and eastern flank are very vulnerable to Iranian attack. If I was ISIS, it would be take Baghdad pause regroup and move against Assad or the Saudis.
The obstacle for ISIS in Baghdad will be Sadr city and it's one million plus Shiite followers. Western and southern Baghdad is solid Sunni. I can see the city become partitioned along sectarian lines .... but the critical parts (the airport, the Green zone, electrical and water installations) .... I would bet that it would fall under ISIS control. There would be no need to enter Sadr City .... control/shut-off the water and Sadr city could empty out in a few weeks .... especially now in summertime and 30C+ temperatures.
"I think ISIS is playing on the nerves of government forces in Baghdad. Rattle them and see who runs. Note that ole Moqtada Sadr and his boys have been very quiet the last few days (he may have already run)" - James
Sadr may already have run?!?!
Sadr claimed leadership at the age of 33 (?) when his father was killed. Other Shia Clerics said he was too young. He ignored them. The Iranians were happy for another foil.
IMHO Sadr is am lion when things are going his way. But that is not secret about human psychology. He never got enough rug burns growing up.
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