Accessibility links

Breaking News

Renewed Strikes On Al-Najaf


20 August 2004 -- U.S. warplanes and forces hit positions overnight held by radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his militiamen in and around the Imam Ali Mosque.

Reporters in the area described the bombing as some of the heaviest in the two-week standoff in Al-Najaf.

Earlier yesterday, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi issued a "final call" for the insurgents in Al-Najaf to disarm and said he was still prepared to accept a truce from al-Sadr.

Meanwhile, in the Sunni Muslim city of Al-Fallujah, U.S. warplanes bombed suspected insurgent positions. U.S. warplanes have bombed targets in Al-Fallujah almost daily over the past week.

Elsewhere, suspected al-Sadr militants set fire to the headquarters of Iraq's South Oil Company in Al-Basrah.

For the latest news on Iraq, see RFE/RL's webpage on "The New Iraq".

Factbox: Iraq's Holy City of Al-Najaf


(AP/Reuters/BBC)

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG