Operation Sinbad in Basra.

In Iraq, the British Army has launched Operation Sinbad, "a several-month long attempt to restore security and rebuild the troubled southern port city" of Basara. A British spokesman told International Newspapers that the operation (named after Basra's most famous resident) intends to provide,

... a concentrated security framework in order to allow the Iraqi forces to surge into the area and to provide reconstruction support for the Iraqi army engineers and Iraqi contractors.

Translation: it is the army's long term aim to hand over Basra to the Iraqis but, for now, they will focus on helping the locals to get back on their feet and on taking responsibility for dealing with any bad guys that interfere.

On the one hand, that will involve civilian "hearts and minds" projects such as getting hospitals and schools working, and improving the water supply. On the other hand, it will mean the military bringing law and order to a city whose problems include: a notoriously corrupt police force; violence between rival Sunni and Shiite militias; and "ordinary" criminal gangs, notably oil smugglers.

It is a difficult, dangerous task. We can only pray that the army achieves it with minimum casualties.

Upate 28.9.06
The Daily Telegraph has a report with a Basra timeline.

Tags: Iraq, Basra, War on Terror