Tip line leads to attack on enemy in Diwaniya

CNN:

U.S. warplanes struck suspected insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades in the southern Iraqi city of Diwaniya on Saturday, the U.S. military said.

Residents in the predominantly Shiite city used a hotline to tip off authorities that insurgents carrying grenade launchers were in the area, the military said. Iraqi soldiers then took action.

"The troops made positive identification of the militiamen and called for the airstrike," a military statement said.

Iraqi police told The Associated Press that at least one civilian was killed and five seriously injured when a U.S. tank fired on a house in Diwaniya. The U.S. military had no immediate comment on any civilian casualties, AP reported.

The airstrike is part of a military crackdown on insurgents in Diwaniya, which is known to be home to Shiite militias. The operation is being led by Iraqi soldiers and supported by coalition soldiers and paratroopers.

U.S. troops swept into the troubled city before dawn Friday, killing three militia fighters and capturing 27 people, the U.S. military said. The attack -- named Operation Black Eagle -- is targeting gunmen loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

The U.S. military also said troops found a site where powerful explosives were being assembled.

...

CNN did a much better job of reporting this action than the AP, because they focused on one of the most important metrics in the battle with the enemy in Iraq, the tip line. This gives citizens the ability to let us know what the enemy is up to in their area. In this case, it came from a Shia city and the enemy they ratted out was part of Sadr's militia. This is a significant turning point by the citizens of this Iraq city. I think it is another example of the positive effect of the surge giving the citizens the feeling that they will be protected.