BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 12, 2004 — Joint Iraqi Police Service, Iraqi National Guard, and U.S. Special Forces operations in Al Kut, Aug. 11, against Mehdi Militiamen may have broken the back of anti-Iraqi forces in the city, according to the city's governor, according to Multinational Force Iraq officials.

The actions came after Iraqi police stations and other government buildings were attacked and overrun in some cases.

The fighting culminated in one area when Iraqi guardsmen and police launched an assault across the Tigris River in a small boat under machine gun fire and retook a key bridge in the city. Iraqi forces continue to hold the bridge.

Multinational Forces also launched an AC-130 gunship, providing close air support to forces in the city. Included in the Multinational Forces battle damage assessment were the destruction of the Al Kut "Sadr Bureau," one Mehdi Militia manned-and-controlled Iraqi police station that had been overrun, 23 other buildings and eight vehicles.

One Multinational Forces service member was reported injured in the fight and evacuated after briefly returning to the action. Iraqi forces were fighting side-by-side with the Multinational Forces troops in the area.

Al Kut lies roughly 110 miles southeast of the capital city of Baghdad on the Tigris River.