U.S. and Iraqi security forces had conducted numerous raids and operations against elements of the Mahdi Army and the Special Groups in the southern city.

[2] On 19 November, a senior general with the 8th Division (Iraq) of the Iraqi Army reported Iranian-made weapons were among a large cache of arms and ammunition found during the operation.

"There are seven Iranian-made roadside bombs and nine anti-tank mines," said Major General Jamil Kamel al Shimari, a senior officer in the 8th Iraqi Army Division.

[3] Sadr's office in the town of Nafar, south of Diwaniyah, was raided as part of the crackdown, Hussain al-Buderi, a member of the Qadisiyah provincial council Mr Buderi said.

[4] Diwaniyah's police chief, Major General Ali Akmoosh, said the assault also led to the dismissal of 70 policemen, including some officers, for supporting "armed gangs".