American Forces Battle Iraqi Cult

Jan. 29, 2007 — -- Iraqi and American forces last weekend engaged in a lengthy and fierce battle with a violent Iraqi cult that was planning to conduct a large-scale attack that would coincide with the Shiite holy period of Ashura, Iraqi sources told ABC News.

The leader of the cult considered himself to be the Mahdi. Both Shiite and Sunni Muslims believe in the return of Mahdi, and that his return will be an indication of the world's imminent end. Sunnis believe this is a prophet, a reincarnation of the prophet Jesus Christ, while Shiites believe he is one of the 12 holy Shiite imams.

Ali al-Debag, a spokesman for the Iraqi prime minister's office, told ABC News that Samer Dhiya al-Din (Abu Qamar), the leader of this cult, known as "Soldiers of Heaven," was killed in a battle in Najaf that began Sunday morning and lasted for almost 24 hours.

According to Najaf officials, the group involved in the battle was made up of both Shiites and Sunnis, as well as some foreign fighters. The cult also included women and children, who were involved in the battle.

There are instances of similar cults, inspired by the concept of a Mahdi, in Islamic history. Some Shiite Muslims believe that the Mahdi is already among the living and when he makes himself known to the public he will bring about the end of the world. The cult leader killed today may have declared himself the Mahdi among the people, responsible for the ultimate destruction of the world.

Din is thought to have been influenced by Shiite cleric Ahmad Bin al-Hassan al-Basri. Baghdad University political science professor Khalil Lufta, who specializes in Islamic affairs, says, "We never heard about this [Soldiers of Heaven] before yesterday, but the leader of this trend [Basri] use to have different views concerning the role of the Shiite ... in issues concerning the community."

In an interview with an Iraqi television channel, the Najaf Gov. Assad Sultan Abu Kilel says that he received information that this group was planning to kill all the clerics in the city and destroy the city's holy shrine. Such an effort is thought to have been an attempt by the cult leader to destroy the religious leadership and fulfill the prophecy that the world was indeed coming to an end.

Col. Ali Nomas, spokesman for the Najaf police, told ABC News that U.S. cavalry are scanning the area and are using mine sweepers to avoid any possible minefields on their way to the area where the clashes took place. He told ABC News that more than 250 insurgents were killed and 13 were captured.

American military sources says they have little information on the group. A senior Pentagon source says only that it appears to have been "a Shiite splinter group … a bunch of thugs."

The official also says it is not known why so many of these fighters were assembled in one place, although it appears they were planning some kind of attack tied to the Ashura pilgrimage. The official says there is no confirmation of "rumors" that these fighters planned to take out religious leaders, including Ayatollah Sistani.

The American military source also says that "several hundred" U.S. forces were sent in to the fight and an estimated 500 bombs were dropped. An Apache helicopter was shot down during the battle, killing two U.S. soldiers onboard.

If Iraqi officials are correct about the cult, the group is reminiscent of a similar group that tried to take over the Great Mosque of the Ka'aba in Mecca in 1979. The leader of that siege reportedly used the concept of the Mahdi to recruit followers to overthrow the Saudi royal family and establish the "just leader" of the Muslims.