Maysan: Phase II & Sadrist Reaction

"Phase two of the Maysan operation is proving to be fruitful. On Saturday security forces discovered a bomb making factory in the 'Hussein' district in central Amara. The factory was being used to make "smart" IED's. The advanced armour piercing explosives, that many US and Iraqi officials have long accused Iran of supplying the Mehdi Army and other criminal gangs in Iraq, were found by the Ministry of Interior's Rapid Intervention Force and local police.

Roughly 20 weapons caches have already been discovered since the operation began on Thursday. General Mohammed Al-Askari (Arabic link) gave details about two of these caches, which were found hidden by the Sadrists in "Majidiya" and "Qadisiya" in central Amara. They included artillery shells, 60mm rockets, mortar rounds, RPG's and binoculars. He also mentioned that 14 of the arrested criminals captured by the security forces were high profile."
Eye Raki