Iran Transfers Millions to Iraq's Shiite Mahdi Army

http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2006/october/10_12_2.html

BAGHDAD [MENL] -- Iran has transferred millions of dollars as well as weapons and expertise to Iraq's Mahdi Army.

Officials said the Mahdi Army has become a leading Iranian surrogate in Iraq. They said Mahdi fighters have been trained and equipped in Iran in a move meant to avoid deployment of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps soldiers in Iraq.

"We're having to block Shi'ite extremists from linking with Iran." Maj. Gen. Richard Zahner, deputy chief of staff of intelligence for Multinational Forces in Iraq, said.

Zahner told a briefing on Sept. 27 that Iran has sought to dominate Iraq. He said Iran has been developing the Mahdi Army as well as splinter groups that no longer came under the umbrella of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada Sadr.

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