Battle of Karbala (2007)

Battle of Karbala
Part of the Iraq War
Date 27–29 August 2007 Location Karbala, Iraq Result Defeat of Mahdi Army Reconstruction of Karbala by Coalition forces[1]
Belligerents
Iraq  Poland  Bulgaria United States	Mahdi Army
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Hadi Al-Amiri Col. Peter Mansoor[2] Gen. Mieczyslaw Bieniek[3]	(POW)
Casualties and losses
4 killed 52 wounded	100-300 killed 33 captured

The Battle of Karbala began on the night of 27 August 2007 and involved fighting between the Mahdi Army, who provided security for the pilgrims,^[4] and police (who were largely members of the Badr Organization) in Karbala, Iraq.

Hundreds of thousands of Shia pilgrims gathered in the city for the annual festival of Mid-Sha'ban. Security was high as pilgrims had been killed in previous years by suicide bombers.

Battle[]

Shooting first started on 27 August. The government reacted by deploying more troops to the area.

During the battle, a fight over Karbala city hall erupted between entrenched platoons of Polish and Bulgarian forces and Mahdi Army rebels. Fighting lasted for about 3 days, NATO forces were significantly outnumbered during the city hall battle; 60~ total NATO forces and about 15 Iraqi policemen against over 300 rebel irregulars and allegedly, according to Polish soldiers' accounts - unknown number of Chechen mercenaries. The forces inside city hall were relieved by Polish QRF.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki imposed a curfew on the morning of 29 August as fighting continued. Soon after, he claimed that the situation was under control.^[5] The curfew ordered pilgrims to leave their devotions early and ultimately failed to stop a third bout of shooting in the evening.

Trial[]

The head of the Mahdi Army in Karbala, , was arrested and tried over the violence. In August 2008 he was convicted and sentenced to death.^[6]

References[]