| Battle of Karbala | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theIraq War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Iraq Poland Bulgaria United States |  Mahdi Army | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Hamza al Taie | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 4 killed 52 wounded | |||||||
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TheBattle of Karbala began on the night of 27 August 2007 and involved fighting between theMahdi Army, who provided security for the pilgrims,[4] andpolice (who were largely members of theBadr Organization) inKarbala,Iraq.
Hundreds of thousands ofShia pilgrims gathered in the city for the annual festival ofMid-Sha'ban. Security was high as pilgrims had been killed in previous years bysuicide bombers.
The Battle of Karbala in August 2007 was a major clash between the Iraqi security forces and Shiite militiamen in the city ofKarbala, Iraq. The battle took place during the height of the sectarian violence that followed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. It was sparked by the decision of theIraqi government to launch a crackdown onShiite militias in the city, which had been accused of engaging in kidnappings, assassinations, and other violent acts. The militias, led by theMahdi Army of the radical clericMuqtada al-Sadr, resisted the government's efforts to disarm them, and the situation escalated into a full-blown battle that lasted for several days. The battle resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people and demonstrated the continued challenges faced by the Iraqi government in maintaining security and stability in the country.[5]
Shooting first started on 27 August, 2007. Thegovernment 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 andMahdi Army rebels. Fighting lasted for about three days and NATO forces were significantly outnumbered during the city hall battle: approximately 60 total NATO forces and about 15 Iraqi policemen against over 300 rebel irregulars. According to Polish soldiers' accounts, there was also an unknown number ofChechenmercenaries. The forces inside city hall were relieved by PolishQRF.
Prime MinisterNouri al-Maliki imposed a curfew on the morning of 29 August as fighting continued. Soon after, he claimed that the situation was under control.[6] The curfew ordered pilgrims to leave their devotions early and ultimately failed to stop a third bout of shooting in the evening.
The head of the Mahdi Army in Karbala, Ali Sharia, was arrested and tried over the violence. In August 2008 he was convicted and sentenced to death.[7]