ICP, SCIRI Report Renewed Attacks in the South (October 20, 1998)
The Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq(SCIRI) and the Iraqi Communist Party (ICP) have provided information on attacks in the south by Saddam's army in the past two weeks.
In a press release dated October 6, 1998, SCIRI reported that substantial units of Iraq's Republican Guard have been put on full alert, especially those in the southern areas of the country. The majority of forces with heavy artillery and rockets were mobilized in the direction of Zubair city in the province of Basra.
In two earlier news releases, SCIRI reported that between September 22-29, Saddam's forces attacked villages and areas of Nassiriya province of Thi Qar. The report indicated that people in the area were bombarded with massive artillery attacks, and many homes were demolished using tractors. Women, children, and the elderly in the area were forced to flee their villages while the young men were arrested. The report indicated that the regime's forces continued to target other areas within the Nassiriya district, surrounding villages, cutting off electricity, preventing food supplies, and continuing the massive shelling. According to SCIRI, Lt. Gen. Ayad Al-Rawi, Brig Gen. Ahmad Salih and Abdul Baqi Al-Sa'doun were in charge of the campaigns in September.
The SCIRI news release of October 6 reported that on October 2, the regime attacked al Abra area in the southern marshes, inhabited mainly by the tribes of Abouda. Furthermore, on October 4, government troops also attacked areas inhabited by Al-Hassan tribe near Nassiriya.
A news release from the ICP dated October 6 reported a series of heavy military attacks by the regime on the marshes straddling Thi Qar, Maysan, and Basra provinces on September 20. The ICP reported that the Iraqi forces were targeting national opposition members and deserters from the army who found refuge in these rural areas aided by local tribes. The report indicated that violent clashes took place between the opposition members on the one hand, and units from the army, the Republican Guard, and Ba'ath militias on the other. The report also stated that the two Iraqi officials in charge of these violent campaigns were Colonel Aboud Abd Al-Samad, and Abd Al-Baquey Al-Sa'doun. Soldiers participating in these campaigns were allegedly pressured to do so; however, many deserted the army as the local resistance intensified. In an attempt to distort information on losses incurred by Saddam's army, the regime's newspapers published letters of support to Saddam, allegedly from tribes in Thi Qar province. ICP further reported explosions at the Ba'th Party office in Karbala on September 4, and in Baghdad on September 2.
Both ICP and SCIRI reported that local resistance to the regime has increased in the months prior to the attacks. This was especially evident in the central and southern areas of Iraq. The news releases indicated that the increased resistance came in response to the regime's policies which included mandatory drafting of young men, continued harassment of tribes, arbitrary arrests and killings, and corruption. |
