The firebrand Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr said on today that Iraqis would not “sit by with folded hands” while Israel struck at Lebanon, signaling a possible increase in attacks from his mercurial militia, the Mahdi Army. Mr. Sadr made it clear in a written statement that he considered the United States culpable in the conflict unfolding in Lebanon, since America is the largest foreign ally of Israel. Mr. Sadr’s incitement, which was repeated at his mosques across Iraq during Friday prayers, could ignite further attacks against American troops here. Tensions have been rising in recent weeks between the American military and the Mahdi Army, with American forces carrying out raids against Mahdi hideouts and arresting senior leaders. Full Story
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