The battle o f naj af was a ma jor bat tle in the 2003 invasion of iraq. It was very cool and interesting to be part of the evolution of gear from the pre911 days to where the teams are now. Reutersali jasim an iraqi shiite muslim boy kisses a poster of the ayatollah ali alsistani in the town of karbala, feb. On 31 july 2004 the 11th marine expeditionary unit, under the polish led multinational division centralsouth mndcs. Najaf lost its religious primacy to qom, and was not to regain it until the 21st century, during the establishment of a shiimajority government in iraq after 2003. Vladimir arts the battle for an najaf by james dietz. January 31, 2007 the battle of najaf, 2007 by austin bay. Ill get to the battle of najaf 2007 in a moment, but first consider who benefits from the mass murder of shia pilgrims and senior shia clerisy who support reconciliation and national unity.
A small unit of american soldiers was walking along a street in najaf when hundreds of iraqis poured out of the buildings on either side. The city of an najaf, iraq, is a provincial and market center located on the weste. In the spring and summer of 2004, iraq was coming apart at the seams. Last week, staff writer scott baldauf, an iraqi interpreter, and freelance photographer kael alford traveled from baghdad to the central iraqi city of najaf intending to write about growing tension between the iraqi government and the shiite militia mahdi army of moqtada alsadr, an antiamerican cleric. Real and simulated wars blog this book is the definitive study of the battle of najaf 2004 and is a must for the serious student of modern warfare.
Marine corps general, says that iraqs future may hinge on the battle for najaf. Camp, a vietnam veteran usmc, is an amazing researcher and a surprisingly talented writer. The process by which the 1st brigade combat team liberated an najaf became the template for all coalition forces during the remainder of combat hostilities. During the early days of oif, i was listening to cnn describe the battle for najaf, and literally sat up when i heard the story youre about to read. On sunday morning, americans woke to the news of a major battle in iraq, and as the initial reports about the fighting in najaf began rolling in, we learned that. The battle of najaf was the last major battle that ssg griffin, jr was involved before he was killed as the battle of najaf. Photo courtesy of lucian reada new book, all of which i saw, by photojournalist lucian read captures the battle of najaf in iraq in august 2004. The many heroes of this incredible unit have nobly and willingly carried the. The first stage of the battle was fought when the us 3rd infantry division fought to surround the town. For moulton, book brings to life painful memories of war. Despite the americans having overwhelming firepower they met a determined foe. The city was encircled during heavy fighting on 26. The many heroes of this incredible unit have nobly and willingly carried the accolades.
It gives a detailed day by day account of the marines, later backed by the army and iraqi forces as they attempted to destroy moqtada alsadrs mahdi army. The battle for an najaf from iraqi freedom by the artist. He and his four friends in the room with us are shiite muslims, and say they have no interest in the fighting. The battle of najaf was a major battle in the 2003 invasion of iraq. Police colonel ali nomas said 250 militants had been killed, reported reuters. Some parts were hard to follow because the author went forward and back in time. Jan 29, 2019 what battle for the city of the dead does a much better job doing is describing how intense the fighting in najaf was for the u. For more information on the fight to retake najaf, i recommend the book battle for the city of the dead by dick camp. Najaf which isnt far from the modern city of karbala is also sistanis home. It does an excellent job describing the american side of the fight. How najaf became the marines forgotten battle in iraq. The holy city of najaf, the site of the largest moslem cemetery in the world, and the imam ali mosque were major sites of fighting.
The recently arrived 11th marine expeditionary unit found itself assigned to quell the uprising in najaf. On 31 july 2004 the 11th marine expeditionary unit. The najaf battle has also raised fresh questions about an ageold rivalry within the american military between the noholdsbarred, pressahead. Mar 28, 2011 this book was a look inside the marines of 1st bn, 4th marines and the awesome job they did in the battle in najaf, iraq. Apr 04, 2014 travis haleys personal account and after action of the battle of najaf. The battle of najaf was fought between united states and iraqi forces on one side and the. This is a battle study written purposely from the perspective of the marines, soldiers, and sailors who fought at an najaf in august 2004, when muqtada alsadr fomented an uprising. Life has moved on in najaf from the battle between american and iraqi forces, but the fighting has left a painful legacy for many of the citys 200,000 residents. May 20, 2009 read the book last journey just published. Battle of najaf 2004, 9786200672353, please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or. Just five days after they arrived here to take over from army units that had encircled najaf since an earlier confrontation in the spring, new marine commanders decided to smash guerrillas loyal to the rebel shiite cleric moktada alsadr. I think this book would be a hard read if you are not affiliated with the military.
Marines who recently took over from army units encircling najaf turned firefight with moktada alsadrs forces into eightday pitched battle. Marine corps m1 abrams main battle tank mbt, 11th marine expeditionary unit meu, special operations capable soc, in convoy along the streets of an najaf, an najaf province, iraq, on aug. Exclusive documentary on the 2004 najaf battle internet archive. Buy battle of najaf 2003 book online at best prices in india on. Iraqi army battles shia cult, sunni insurgents in najaf fdd. The battle of najaf was fought between united states and iraqi forces on one side and the islamist mahdi army of muqtada alsadr on the other in the iraqi city of najaf in august 2004. Battle for the city of the dead may well become a paragon in the iraqi war literature. Apr 06, 2004 an attack by hundreds of iraqi militia members on the u. It was calculated that by liberating an najaf, the shiites would rise up and assist the coalition in the battle. Iraqs grand ayatollah ali alsistani is a most remarkable man. Apr 04, 2014 celebrity firearms trainer travis haley, who served in iraq with 2nd force reconnaissance battalion and returned to the country as a blackwater contractor protecting ambassador paul bremer, recently released a riveting firsthand account of a battle in najaf that occurred ten years ago today.
In the spring and summer of 2004, iraq was coming ap. Najaf gunship video ssg griffins last major battle before. Sep 09, 20 a book by an aide to ayatollah ali alsistani reveals new details about the 2004 battle of najaf. Flights from bahrain bah to al najaf njf find cheap. Jan 30, 2007 on sunday morning, americans woke to the news of a major battle in iraq, and as the initial reports about the fighting in najaf began rolling in, we learned that. In addition to this, the citys population consisted of primarily shiites muslims.
Najaf project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. Jan 29, 2007 iraqi security forces, backed by american tanks and air support, attacked what appears to be a mixed group of sunni insurgents and a shia endtimes cult known as the soldiers of heaven. The battleground was through a tangle of crypts, mausoleums, and crumbling graves. During the 2003 invasion of iraq, najaf was a key target of the invading united states forces. Buy battle of najaf 2003 book online at low prices. The book, printed on thick stock, contains over 100 color images woven throughout camps detailed text. A firsthand account by the only western reporter in najaf as major fighting broke out late last week.
Many months later, i found the details of the day in an excellent book, banking on baghdad, by edwin black. In his latest, he has tackled one of the most interesting, and bloody, battles of the war in iraq in thrilling fashion the battle for najaf. This is a battle study written purposely from the perspective of the marines, soldiers, and sailors who fought at annajaf in august 2004. Najaf gunship video ssg griffins last major battle. Search cheap flights with low cost, charter and traditional airlines flying from bahrain bah to al najaf njf and book directly with airline or travel agent. That murder fixed the schism between the sunni and the shia. Now, however, we need to revise that account, according to the new book wiser in battle by lt.