U.S. Hits Insurgents in Southern Baghdad

U.S. forces battled insurgents in southern Baghdad today, shaking the Iraqi capital with heavy explosions and gunfire.

A military spokesperson said on the condition of anonymity that operations including “aerial activity and artillery” were underway against insurgents south of the capital’s center.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or arrests.

American commanders have said they had planned operations over the Christmas period after receiving intelligence that there might be insurgent attacks.

On Tuesday, a U.S. task force in Baqubah, northeast of Baghdad, arrested five Iraqis, including one suspected of recruiting guerrillas, Maj. Josslyn Aberle of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division said.

Sources said the other four were believed to be associates of Izzat Ibrahim, the top figure still at large from among the U.S. list of 55 most wanted Iraqis. U.S. commanders say he could be organizing anti-U.S. resistance.

In an earlier raid in Baqubah, U.S. troops detained a former Iraqi army colonel suspected of recruiting ex-Iraqi soldiers to fight the American-led coalition. Near Fallouja, west of Baghdad, a military statement said troops captured “26 enemy personnel, including two former Iraqi generals and an Iraqi Special Forces colonel.”

But insurgent attacks continued. In Mosul, in northern Iraq, gunmen fatally shot a judge, Youssef Murad, on Monday night. The assailants escaped.

Amid the violence, two U.S. soldiers took time out Tuesday to play Santa for poor children in central Baghdad.

The four boxes of toys and candy -- donated by Christian radio station WCIC in Peoria, Ill. -- were empty in minutes.