US and Iraqi government forces are preparing a final assault on Shia militia positions in the holy town of Najaf, US military said today.
"Iraqi and US forces are making final preparations as we get ready to finish this fight that the Moqtada (al-Sadr) militia started, " the commanding officer of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Najaf said.
He said said US marines, army soldiers and Iraqi National Guards will "continue joint training exercises in preparation for major assaults against enemy forces in the city of Najaf".
Militiamen loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr battled US and Iraqi government forces for a seventh day today in fighting that has killed or wounded hundreds.