Secret deal kept British Army out of battle for Basra

by Dave Keating | August 5, 2008 at 04:07 am

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Reports today in British papers are claiming that a secret deal between the al-Mahdi militia in Basra prevented British forces from entering Basrea for nearly a week while US forces were bogged down there. At the time, there was great confusion and speculation about why the British army was simply standing by the sidelines and not going in.

A secret deal between Britain and the notorious al-Mahdi militia prevented British Forces from coming to the aid of their US and Iraqi allies for nearly a week during the battle for Basra this year, The Times has learnt.

Four thousand British troops – including elements of the SAS and an entire mechanised brigade – watched from the sidelines for six days because of an “accommodation” with the Iranian-backed group, according to American and Iraqi officers who took part in the assault.

US Marines and soldiers had to be rushed in to fill the void, fighting bitter street battles and facing mortar fire, rockets and roadside bombs with their Iraqi counterparts.

Hundreds of militiamen were killed or arrested in the fighting. About 60 Iraqis were killed or injured. One US Marine died and sevenwere wounded.