Arrests of members of the Mahdi Army have paradoxically strengthened Sunni militants in at least one area of the capital, according to residents.

In Baghdad’s southwestern areas, as Slogger has reported before, predominantly Sunni and predominantly Shi'a districts sit side-by-side, respective strongholds of sectarian militias locked in a deadly turf war for this part of the city.

At the same time, the security presence of the official Iraqi forces is very weak in these areas, and recent efforts to impose the government’s control seem not to have made headway. In fact, the security plan in this part of the city seems to be having the perverse effect of breaking the stalemate between Sunni and Shi'a militants, tipping the balance in favor of the former.

After the recent Iraqi push into the al-Duwanim area, sources report that little has changed. Three weeks ago, the Iraqi Army began its attempt to impose control on the dangerous Sunni militant stronghold.

The rural district is still under the control of Sunni militants, who still use the area to stage sniper, bomb, and shelling attacks on neighboring Shi'a areas. Residents of al-Shurta, al-Risala, and al-'Ilam report continuing shelling and sniper fire.

In fact, in the nearby al-Rashid district, residents report that the arrest of members of the Mahdi Army has strengthened the hold of Sunni militants, known as the “Omar Army.” Only the Mahdi Army, engaged in a low-level open war with Omar Army militants for control of the area has been capable of opposing the Omar Brigades in this area, as Slogger reported earlier.

Similar developments are reported in nearby districts. Residents report incursions and attacks by Omar Army militants on areas of al-Risala and al-Shurta that the Mahdi Army had earlier controlled. Members of the Sunni militia were seen traveling without opposition in the open on Qatr al-Nada Street, a major thoroughfare in the area. Residents told Slogger that this presence would have earlier met resistance from the Mahdi Army.

Indeed, Slogger reported earlier that some areas of southwestern Baghdad are so dangerous for Iraqi security forces that they do not enter them without collaboration from the Mahdi Army.

Indiscriminate sniping and shelling continues in the southwest areas of the capital. In just the last day, sources reported shells landing on the Shi'a areas of al-Risala, al-Shurta, and al-Suwaib, al-Ma'alef, and al-Ra’y districts. In al-Ra’y, residents estimated 20 to 25 shells falling.

Fighting continues in the al-'Amil district between Sunni militants and the Iraqi security forces.

In al-Rashid district, tensions are high between the US military and the Mahdi Army. Sunni militants in the Omar Army have tried to exploit this tense situation, staging attacks that look like they were committed by the Mahdi Army to increase the tension between US military and the Mahdi Army.

At the same time, some members of the Mahdi Army are attempting attacks on US soldiers in parts of the city. An eyewitness told Slogger he observed Mahdi Army members open fire on US forces in Sadr City on Tuesday, at a gas station on al-Dakhil Street. The source did not observe any injuries.

Also around the city, sources report that Mahdi Army members are employing “sticky bombs” to attack American armored vehicles. These explosives feature the ability to stick it to the body of the vehicle before exploding, causing more damage to the armor of the vehicle. Sources were not aware of the specific nature of the weapons.

The Mahdi Army is under orders from Muqtada al-Sadr to stand down during the security plan, and has not mounted large-scale military operations in the capital since the beginning of the plan in February. However, as reported earlier, Sadr's control over the militia is not absolute, and members of the Mahdi Army have been involved in armed activity around the city. It is unclear what level of knowledge or control the Sadrist organization has over these members.

Elsewhere in the city, sniping and shelling continue as a steady backdrop to the more spectacular bomb attacks that have made the news recently. A Slogger source reports that last week, a sniper in the western district of Qadisiya area killed three young people who had come to gather the empty Pepsi cans to sell them later as scrap.

Another eyewitness source saw mortar shells falling on al-Za'faraniya district, killing three Iraqis and injuring other three last week.