U.S. Worries Of New Iranian Equipment In Iraq

The U.S. military has been concerned over the introduction of advanced military systems in Iraq. Officials said U.S. intelligence has detected the entry of advanced Iranian communications and other systems in Iraq since August 2006. They said some of the equipment was used by Hizbullah in its 34-day war with Israel. ‘We believe that the Hizbullah war was used as a testing ground for a range of equipment and some of that was brought to Shi'ite militias over the last few weeks,’ an official said. The U.S. Army has expressed concern that the Mahdi Army and other Iranian-sponsored Shi'ite militias have received advanced communications equipment. Officials said the equipment was designed to intercept and jam U.S. military communications. ‘We have seen some evidence that the Mahdi Army might have intercepted our communications during operations in Sadr City,’ an official said. ‘At this point, we can't be sure.’