The same, or another, force later attempted to enter from the other side through Omar bin Abdul Aziz Street. The attack was repelled and several vehicles were burnt. 7 to 12 residents were killed in the clash.
Electric power returned at 3 am and the area calmed down for a few minutes. American helicopters were circling the area, and National Guards backed by an American force soon arrived at the scene and engaged with what it thought to be an insurgent force attacking the Adhamiya police station. The residents continued to return fire and the random exchange lasted until 12 pm. By then, both sides had realised their mistake. Adhamiya elders and local clerics rushed to clear the misunderstanding with the National Guard. National Guards set up checkpoints and helped restore security. The district was cordoned, residents stayed indoors and stores remained closed, even at Raghiba Khatoun, which is usely oblivous to whatever happens in other parts of Adhamiya.
There had been a previous understanding for a few months between the 2 parties that, as long as Interior ministry forces do not enter Adhamiya, National Guards were free to patrol and maintain checkpoints in the area. National Guards in return, turned a blind eye to the many neighbourhood watch teams and even the 'Mujahideen' as long as they don't target them. National Guards were considered allies and during the Samarra events they stepped back in the shadows and watched as vigilant units took over and patrolled Adhamiya at nighttime. There was at least one incident, a couple of weeks ago, when a National Guard commander warned the 'Mujahideen' that Interior ministry forces had entered the area, and turned over his weapons to residents so they could defend themselves.
Tuesday, 6:45 am: a speeding vehicle drove by and fired a few shots at a lethargic National Guard unit near the corner of Omar bin Abdul Aziz and Siham Al-Mitwali streets. The unit responded with a rabid barrage of Douchka and PKC fire, damaging several stores and hitting the nearby Al-Anbia' mosque. The mosque guards snuck to Dhubat Street from back alleys, took positions on a 3-floor building and started taking potshots at the National Guards at the intersection of Omar and Dhubat streets. Other watch teams thought it was another attack, and by 8 am the whole district erupted into an inferno of machine gun fire. Amidst the chaotic firefight, we could make out the familiar buzz of an American unmanned surveillance plane in the air.
"Please refrain from firing at the mosque. Does a house of Allah have no sanctity to you?" a haughty voice was broadcasting from the Al-Anbia' mosque loudspeakers to the National Guards. "You are supposed to restore order. Cease fire immediately or face the consequences. He who has warned is henceforth excused."
The message only served to provoke heavier fire from both sides.
American Humvees entered Adhamiya and returned fire at everything that moved. The fire was random now and at 1 pm the situation had calmed down again.
People were seen on the streets at 5 pm and bakeries and supermarkets opened for a couple of hours. We went out for supplies; bread, petrol, cigarettes and Pepsi. There was no electric power since Monday morning. We heard from friends and relatives that life was going on 'normally' in other parts of the capital; the obligatory car bomb or roadside bomb, politicians still bickering, corpses still turning up at random locations, people still being kidnapped and assassinated, you know, the usual everyday stuff.
Tuesday night was calm. And except for another short clash near the Adhamiya police station, nothing much has happened on Wednesday, yet. National Guards were manning checkpoints all over Adhamiya and residents were cooperative. The district is getting extremely difficult to navigate. As you can see from the photos below, there are barricades blocking every street and back alley. The area is now one huge fortress, armed to the teeth and expecting an attack any moment now.
This is the Washington Post's account of the battles.
Some interesting, and often conflicting, rumours and tidbits from Adhamiya residents, just so you get an impression on what people are saying:
"About 40 4wd and pickup vehicles from the Interior ministry tried to enter the area Monday. They had black-clad Badr (or Mahdi) militiamen with them. Some were dressed in police uniform"
"They were all Iranians."
"The resistance captured 13 (or 14) Iranians Monday at Omar bin Abdul Aziz Street."
"They took the Iranians to a hidden location because they will return to look for them."
"What's this bullshit about Iranians?" an old lady of Iranian descent on our street.
"The attack Monday was punishment for Adhamiya because they opposed Ja'fari's nomination as PM."
"The electricity outage is punishment for the district because it fought back."
"While National Guards were shooting at stores and local generators, they were shouting: 'Let the Accord front compensate you.'"
"They were shouting: 'Let Adnan Al-Dulaimi compensate you.'"
"The National Guards are such treacherous bastards. They turned against Adhamiya."
"They want to turn Adhamiya into another Fallujah or Tala'far. This attack has been planned for months."
"There were fliers distributed a week ago warning Adhamiya residents that they will all be dragged in the streets soon."
"They came from Sadr city."
"They came from Iran."
"The firefight was started by a few troublemakers from Fallujah."
"The Americans did nothing to settle the firefight."
***
Mapping the violence:
The fortified Al-Anbia' mosque off Omar bin Abdul Aziz street, where the heaviest fighting took place Tuesday:
The deserted intersection of Omar bin Abdul Aziz and Dhubat streets, Tuesday:
The Jalal mosque at Raghiba Khatoun was hit by a mortar shell early Tuesday:
Roadblocks in different parts of Adhamiya:
Stocking up black market fuel for the home generator:
Uncollected garbage at the busy commercial Raghiba Khatoun street:
