BlackFive

It was widely reported that Iraqi forces conducted a brutal raid on the camp of a group of Iranian dissidents the Mujahedin e-Khalq (MEK). This group had been protected from Iraqi reprisals by US forces until the security agreement had them removed from cities. The raid highlights the influence Iran has on the Iraqi government and the waning of direct US control of Iraqi security activities. I spoke to someone who was there and heard that while the action was quite brutal it was not as bad as portrayed in many reports. It seems the Iraqis wanted to establish a police station in the camp and were opposed by the MEK. My source says there were apparently no fatalities although the MEK claims four were killed. I will update as further information becomes available.