Battle of Najaf (2007)

Battle of Najaf (2007)
Part of the Iraq War, Iraqi insurgency
Date 28–29 January 2007 Location Zarqa, Najaf Governorate, Iraq Result Iraqi and Coalition victory
Belligerents
Iraq United States United Kingdom	Soldiers of Heaven, possibly Iraqi tribesmen
Commanders and leaders
Michael Garrett Barry F. Huggins Othman al-Ghanmi	Dia Abdul-Zahra †[1]
Strength
800	1,000
Casualties and losses
11–25 killed 2 killed 1 AH-64 shot down	263 killed, 407 captured (actual count by US Forces conducting detainee operations post battle)

The Battle of Najaf took place on 28 January 2007 at Zarqa (also spelled Zarga) near Najaf, Iraq, between Iraqi Security Forces (later assisted by U.S. and UK forces) and fighters, initially thought to be Sunni insurgents but later reported to be members of the Shia Islam cult Soldiers of Heaven, who had joined a gathering of worshippers – or, by other accounts, a conflict, originally between an Iraqi government forces checkpoint and 200 armed pilgrims, which then expanded to include local residents, the Soldiers of Heaven group, and UK and U.S. forces. Reportedly, over 250 cult members and 11-25 members of the Iraqi security forces, and two U.S. soldiers were killed.