This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/world/middleeast/in-the-shadows-of-shrines-shiite-forces-are-preparing-to-fight-isis.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
In the Shadows of Shrines, Shiite Forces Are Preparing to Fight ISIS In the Shadows of Shrines, Shiite Forces Are Preparing to Fight ISIS
(35 minutes later)
KARBALA, Iraq — A dozen miles outside this shrine city, on the edges of the uninhabitable western Iraqi desert, a group of paramilitary policemen provides the only visible line of defense against the extremist Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.KARBALA, Iraq — A dozen miles outside this shrine city, on the edges of the uninhabitable western Iraqi desert, a group of paramilitary policemen provides the only visible line of defense against the extremist Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
Hunkered down in a command post, its walls fortified with concrete and rubble, the policemen’s leader, Col. Hossein Alegeli, is dispatching one of his ranger teams deep into the sultry wastes in search of Islamic extremists determined to destroy the holy shrines of Shiite Islam. The team might be the first line of defense, but as Shiite officials in the area scramble to meet the threat, it is hardly the last.Hunkered down in a command post, its walls fortified with concrete and rubble, the policemen’s leader, Col. Hossein Alegeli, is dispatching one of his ranger teams deep into the sultry wastes in search of Islamic extremists determined to destroy the holy shrines of Shiite Islam. The team might be the first line of defense, but as Shiite officials in the area scramble to meet the threat, it is hardly the last.
Most security officials in Iraq’s Shiite holy twin cities, Karbala and Najaf, home to the mausoleums of three of the most revered saints in Shiite Islam, will tell you that the enemy poses little threat because there are many more Shiite men and heavy weapons out there.Most security officials in Iraq’s Shiite holy twin cities, Karbala and Najaf, home to the mausoleums of three of the most revered saints in Shiite Islam, will tell you that the enemy poses little threat because there are many more Shiite men and heavy weapons out there.
Somewhere.Somewhere.
Exactly where they will not say. Two weeks ago, the spokesman for ISIS, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, issued a warning to Iraq’s embattled prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, saying the extremist group would settle its scores with him and the Shiites, not in Baghdad or in the northern Iraqi shrine city of Samarra, but “in Karbala, the filth-ridden city, and in Najaf, the city of polytheists.” Exactly where, they will not say. Two weeks ago, the spokesman for ISIS, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, issued a warning to Iraq’s embattled prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, saying the extremist group would settle its scores with him and the Shiites, not in Baghdad or in the northern Iraqi shrine city of Samarra, but “in Karbala, the filth-ridden city, and in Najaf, the city of polytheists.”
The closest of the shrines, in Karbala, is only 50 miles from their strongholds in the cities of Falluja and Ramadi. On Wednesday ISIS took control of the strategic desert city of Nukhayb on Highway 22, southwest of Baghdad. The town guards the road to Karbala and Najaf. One shrine, in Karbala, is as close as 50 miles from the ISIS strongholds in the cities of Falluja and Ramadi. On Wednesday, ISIS took control of the strategic desert city of Nukhayb on Highway 22, southwest of Baghdad. The town guards the road to Karbala and Najaf.
There is little visible security in either city. In Najaf, a lone, overweight gunner cut a less-than-intimidating figure as he sipped from a water bottle this week while standing in the back of a pickup truck at the entrance of the escalators leading to the shrine. There is little visible security in either city. In Najaf this week, a lone, overweight gunner cut a less-than-intimidating figure as he sipped from a water bottle while standing in the back of a pickup truck at the entrance of the escalators leading to the shrine.
Not to worry, officials here say.Not to worry, officials here say.
“We are completely prepared,” said the highest military commander in the region, Lt. Gen. Othman Ali.“We are completely prepared,” said the highest military commander in the region, Lt. Gen. Othman Ali.
“Do not worry, you are safe,” assured the governor of Karbala, Akeel al-Toreihi, who wears combat boots with his suit.“Do not worry, you are safe,” assured the governor of Karbala, Akeel al-Toreihi, who wears combat boots with his suit.
In Karbala, hidden from the tens of thousands of Shiite pilgrims who continue to visit the burial site of their saint Imam Hussein and that of his half brother Abbas, the Iraqi Army and the police, assisted by thousands of new volunteers, have started to build defensive rings around the city, officials say.In Karbala, hidden from the tens of thousands of Shiite pilgrims who continue to visit the burial site of their saint Imam Hussein and that of his half brother Abbas, the Iraqi Army and the police, assisted by thousands of new volunteers, have started to build defensive rings around the city, officials say.
“It is only a matter of time before they try to attack us,” said Mr. Ali, who is in charge of the Karbala, Najaf and Diwaniya provinces. “It is only a matter of time before they try to attack us,” said General Ali, who is in charge of Karbala, Najaf and Diwaniya Provinces.
In his heavily guarded command post near the shrines, machine guns and body armor stood at the ready. A group of Iraqi Special Forces soldiers was on standby in one of the adjacent rooms.In his heavily guarded command post near the shrines, machine guns and body armor stood at the ready. A group of Iraqi Special Forces soldiers was on standby in one of the adjacent rooms.
The commander said M1 Abrams tanks, helicopters and cannons have been deployed in the desert, as has a battalion of fanatical volunteers, called “the chosen ones,” he said in an interview on Tuesday, before the strategic desert town was taken by ISIS. M1 Abrams tanks, helicopters and cannons had been deployed in the desert, as had a battalion of fanatical volunteers, called “the chosen ones,” General Ali said in an interview on Tuesday, before the strategic desert town was taken by ISIS.
Najaf, which lies roughly 50 miles south of Karbala, and is home to the shrine of Imam Ali, the first saint of the Shiites, is under the same protection, the commander and other officials said.Najaf, which lies roughly 50 miles south of Karbala, and is home to the shrine of Imam Ali, the first saint of the Shiites, is under the same protection, the commander and other officials said.
“We are determined to keep the fights outside of the city,” Mr. Ali said. On Sunday and Monday, reconnaissance forces engaged in combat with small pockets of ISIS fighters who were “hidden in the ground,” the commander said, adding that the fighters had been investigating the city’s defenses. “We are determined to keep the fights outside of the city,” General Ali said. On Sunday and Monday, reconnaissance forces engaged in combat with small pockets of ISIS fighters who were “hidden in the ground,” he said, adding that the fighters had been investigating the city’s defenses.
“We should be happy with the enemy’s moves, as they keep us on edge,” he said. “They are using random tactics to try and confuse us, but we are completely ready.”“We should be happy with the enemy’s moves, as they keep us on edge,” he said. “They are using random tactics to try and confuse us, but we are completely ready.”
The commander, who had a large map with tactical positions in his office, refused to allow access to any of his troops, saying it would jeopardize their security. General Ali, who had a large map with tactical positions in his office, refused to allow access to any of his troops, saying it would jeopardize their security.
Two weeks ago, the highest ranking Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, issued a call to arms to his followers to reinforce the Iraqi Army. He did so, a senior official in Najaf said, “because they are weak and had many problems.”Two weeks ago, the highest ranking Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, issued a call to arms to his followers to reinforce the Iraqi Army. He did so, a senior official in Najaf said, “because they are weak and had many problems.”
Throughout history opponents of Shiite Islam have waged attacks against Karbala and Najaf, striking at the very heart of the faith. Sunni Wahhabi tribes from Saudi Arabia have crossed into Iraq several times, ransacking Karbala. In one of those raids, in 1807, they killed 4,000 people. Nevertheless, “Najaf has often been able to withstand the attacks,” said Abdal Hadi al-Hakim, a member of Parliament from Najaf.Throughout history opponents of Shiite Islam have waged attacks against Karbala and Najaf, striking at the very heart of the faith. Sunni Wahhabi tribes from Saudi Arabia have crossed into Iraq several times, ransacking Karbala. In one of those raids, in 1807, they killed 4,000 people. Nevertheless, “Najaf has often been able to withstand the attacks,” said Abdal Hadi al-Hakim, a member of Parliament from Najaf.
Such a thing would never happen now, he maintained. “If the shrines come under attack, all will rush to their defense,” he said.Such a thing would never happen now, he maintained. “If the shrines come under attack, all will rush to their defense,” he said.
Thousands of men responded to Mr. Sistani’s urgings, and this week about 500 of them received training at a police academy just north of Najaf. Thousands of men responded to Ayatollah Sistani’s urgings, and this week about 500 of them received training at a police academy just north of Najaf.
“The enemy will attack us in the cities,” said a trainer, Ahmad Araji, after he had outfitted some of the volunteers with plastic machine guns. “We are training here for urban warfare.”“The enemy will attack us in the cities,” said a trainer, Ahmad Araji, after he had outfitted some of the volunteers with plastic machine guns. “We are training here for urban warfare.”
In Karbala, some security forces can be seen on the streets. Around entrances to the twin shrines, heavily armed soldiers stand guard, most of them discreetly hidden behind corners and in alcoves.In Karbala, some security forces can be seen on the streets. Around entrances to the twin shrines, heavily armed soldiers stand guard, most of them discreetly hidden behind corners and in alcoves.
Outside his office, the governor of Karbala could be heard shouting at other officials as an armed security guard facilitated a flurry of guests coming to see Mr. Toreihi. Outside his office, the governor of Karbala could be heard shouting at other officials as an armed security guard facilitated a flurry of guests coming to see Governor Toreihi.
But inside, sitting on a white leather couch and wearing his United States Army-style combat boots, the governor was calmness personified. “Every now and then there is a rumor of terrorists inside the city, but that is all nonsense,” he said. “We believe Karbala is safe.” But inside, sitting on a white leather couch, the governor was calmness personified. “Every now and then there is a rumor of terrorists inside the city, but that is all nonsense,” he said. “We believe Karbala is safe.”
There are three rings of defense around the city, the first in the desert, the third on the edges of town, the governor explained. “And of course people here will not welcome the terrorists the way some have done in Mosul,” he added.There are three rings of defense around the city, the first in the desert, the third on the edges of town, the governor explained. “And of course people here will not welcome the terrorists the way some have done in Mosul,” he added.
Outside Karbala, at the paramilitary police post in the desert, the men looked over trucks and other vehicles passing the checkpoint. In his room, Colonel Alegeli was watching a World Cup match. He was rooting for Brazil, he said.Outside Karbala, at the paramilitary police post in the desert, the men looked over trucks and other vehicles passing the checkpoint. In his room, Colonel Alegeli was watching a World Cup match. He was rooting for Brazil, he said.
“We are completely ready and prepared for any attack,” the commander repeated as more tea was brought in. “All our units are deep in the desert, controlling everything.” “We are completely ready and prepared for any attack,” Colonel Alegeli repeated as more tea was brought in. “All our units are deep in the desert, controlling everything.”