A Fort Lewis brigade in Iraq has been battling Shiite militias in Husseiniyah, where a bomb blast last week claimed the life of a soldier and triggered a tense standoff as U.S. troops set up a blockade around this city on Baghdad's northern outskirts.
"Overall, I think al-Qaida is the major problem, but I have Shiite extremists that cause me problems and kill my soldiers," said Col. Jon Lehr, brigade commander, in a telephone interview Wednesday with The Seattle Times.
Lehr said the Shiite extremists' attacks have included the use of explosively formed projectiles, known as EFPs. U.S. military officials allege those explosives have come from Iran.
[...]
While U.S. military commanders — and President Bush — have in recent weeks spotlighted the threat of Sunni extremists linked to al-Qaida, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division officials say they have been waging a separate campaign against the Shiite militias who have laid ambushes from behind dirt walls.
Fort Lewis troops face Shiite militants
By Hal Bernton, Seattle Times
A Fort Lewis brigade in Iraq has been battling Shiite militias in Husseiniyah, where a bomb blast last week claimed the life of a soldier and triggered a tense standoff as U.S. troops set up a blockade around this city on Baghdad's northern outskirts.
"Overall, I think al-Qaida is the major problem, but I have Shiite extremists that cause me problems and kill my soldiers," said Col. Jon Lehr, brigade commander, in a telephone interview Wednesday with The Seattle Times.
Lehr said the Shiite extremists' attacks have included the use of explosively formed projectiles, known as EFPs. U.S. military officials allege those explosives have come from Iran.
[...]
While U.S. military commanders — and President Bush — have in recent weeks spotlighted the threat of Sunni extremists linked to al-Qaida, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division officials say they have been waging a separate campaign against the Shiite militias who have laid ambushes from behind dirt walls.
