Thousands of Iraqi Shiites are being trained in advanced guerrilla warfare tactics at a secret camp near the Iranian capital, according to militants who say they have spent time there.
The British Independent newspaper claimed on Sunday it spoke to two seasoned guerrilla fighters. They said large numbers of Mahdi Army volunteers loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr had gone to the base in Jalil Azad, near Tehran, for instruction.
One fighter, who asked to be identified only as Abu Rafed, said he had seen hundreds of fellow Iraqi Shiites militants there. “We were taught how to attack the Americans, we learned all the modern ways to shoot down helicopters and destroy tanks and armoured vehicles. It is preparation for the time when we will have a big battle with the occupiers.”
