"Iran joined militias in battle for Basra" from Times of London reports that, not surprisingly, Iran was quite involved in the recent fighting in Basra, Iraq - helping out the militias against Iraqi forces - according to General Petraeus who will use this as rationale for maintaining troop strength. Meanwhile, Muqtada al-Sadr has called for one million to throng Baghdad next week on the anniversary of the capital's fall while General Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are in Washington testifying before Congress.
- Military and intelligence sources believe Iranians were operating at a tactical command level with the Shi’ite militias fighting Iraqi security forces; some were directing operations on the ground, they think.
- Petraeus intends to use the evidence of Iranian involvement to argue against any reductions in US forces.
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