MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT
The New York Times
July 1, 2011
BAGHDAD — Against a backdrop of rising violence against American soldiers, Iraqi security forces have unleashed a sweeping crackdown on Iranian-backed Shiite militants responsible for most of the lethal attacks, according to American and Iraqi officials.
The operation has been welcomed by the United States military, which announced the deaths of three Americans in southern Iraq on Thursday, bringing the total of combat-related deaths in June to 14 — the bloodiest month in three years.
Throughout the spring, as the attacks on soldiers increased, American commanders grew concerned that the Shiite government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki would be unwilling to act against the militias. Many of the militant groups have ties to the radical cleric Moktada al-Sadr, whose party is a critical pillar of Mr. Maliki’s governing coalition.
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