The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

879. Mr Jones’ weekly report on Basra, which was attached to the update, said that

there had been 17 attacks on Basra Air Station in the past week, and high levels of

indirect fire.478 An explosion at a Sunni mosque and attack on the headquarters of a

Sunni political party had also “fuelled concern within the nervous Sunni community”.

Mr Jones added that:

“All of our contacts speak of a deterioration in the security situation more generally,

and an undertow of increasing assassinations and kidnappings.”

880. Mr Blair commented: “Why has Basra’s security suddenly turned bad? And what

can be done about it?”479

881. On 28 May, Lt Gen Lamb reported that the continued attacks on Prime Minister

Maliki and his Government in the Arabic press meant that he was:

“… shouldering a huge burden with little in the way of support from a functional

bureaucracy or supporting structures. He is clearly feeling the pressure but

continues to show signs of increasing independence and I sense even ownership.

Our part in the war, what we have done, will do and how we do it and how it is

reported in the coming months, is how our coalition partners, the Iraqis and the

Arab nations in particular will perceive us. Given our British heritage in this part

of the world and the high regard for our honesty, principles and the quality of our

contribution, there is, unless I am much mistaken, a lot yet to play for and a great

deal at stake.”480

882. Despite the problems faced by the Iraqi Government, at the end of May the

FCO reported to the Iraq Strategy Group that the three Kurdish provinces had been

transferred to PIC.481

883. On 31 May, Maj Gen Shaw reported a “strike operation” against Basra JAM leader

Wissam Abu Qadir in the previous week in which he had been killed whilst resisting

detention.482

884. The BBC reported that the kidnap of five British nationals in Baghdad in the same

week may have been retaliation for the strike.483

478 Minute Jones to Aldred, 23 May 2007, ‘Basra: Weekly Report’.

479 Minute Banner to Prime Minister, 25 May 2007, ‘Iraq Update, 25 May’ including manuscript comment

Blair.

480 Minute Lamb to CDS, 28 May 2007, ‘SBMR‑I Weekly Report (256) 28 May 07’.

481 Letter Cabinet Office [junior official] to Sheinwald, 31 May 2007, ‘Iraq Strategy Group, 31 May’.

482 Minute Shaw to CJO, 31 May 2007, ‘GOC HQ MND (SE) – Southern Iraq Update – 31 May 2007’.

483 BBC News, 31 May 2007, Suspicion falls on Mehdi Army.

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