The Iraqi military and police forces have taken back control of the southern part of the country… for the time being that is. The morale of this patrol unit is high. Their visible presence on the streets of Amara comes as a result of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki’s policy of military crackdowns.

More than 10,000 soldiers are chasing away the Shiite militias which used to control southern Iraq. Amara police chief General Saad has complete support and back up from Baghdad. For him the enemy is clearly identified: “really, it’s important to speak the truth clearly; the only real problems in this region are caused by the Mahdi Army. And all those who break the law claim they are members of the Mahdi Army… So I say loud and clear: our enemy is the Mahdi Army…”

Back at the police station. Most of the equipment and the vehicles are completely worn-out, but nevertheless, there is a lot of work to be done. Moqtada Al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army is the most visible but also the most convenient prey. The police decide to arrest this man. Denounced anonymously he is said to be part of the Shiite militia. But reality is more complex: for the past 5 years, dozens of clans and militias have ruled southern Iraq. Personal vengeances and settling of scores often hide behind such tip-offs…

Further down south, past the point where the Tigris River meets the Euphrates River: the city of Basra. For the past few weeks, the city has been safe enough for people to venture back to the river front. Here, the military crackdown is appreciated… But the situation can always change. In Basra, everyone knows violence could return at any moment… Militias have agreed to lay down their arms….but for how long? In this majority Shiite region, religious authorities are feared much more than the military.

This also is true for the Fao Peninsula, the southern tip of Iraq that faces Iran, one of the major entry routes for smuggled weapons, drugs and militia soldiers. But the Iraqi military here is reluctant to point the finger at its Iranian neighbor… According to Fao Peninsula commander Colonel Karim Tallah,  “we can’t really say it comes from Iran. Arms smuggling is something normal in a border region. Weapons are likely to come from Iran, Kuwait and Gulf countries. But now the army and the police are in control of the situation…”.

In this region, some Iraqis and Iranians have converging interests when it comes to trafficking. It’s hard to tell if the current military operations are going to have an impact on these illegal businesses.