Iraq's government removed the top military and police commanders in Basra today, weeks after a botched crackdown on militia fighters there triggered the country's worst fighting in months.
Iraqi army Lieutenant-General Mohan al-Furaiji and police Major-General Abdul-Jalil Khalaf were among the country's most senior commanders and were widely respected by US and British military leaders.
An Interior Ministry spokesman said the two were recalled to senior staff positions in Baghdad as a "reward for their successful mission against the criminals in Basra".
The two commanders were dispatched to Basra last year and won enthusiastic praise from US and British brass for battling militia and fighting infiltration of their forces. Both survived numerous assassination attempts.
But their fate was widely seen as sealed after the crackdown in March failed to dislodge militia fighters loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr from the streets and triggered fighting that spread to other southern cities and Baghdad.
Last week Iraq fired 1,300 soldiers and police for failing to stand and fight during the crackdown. US commander General David Petraeus told Congress the campaign's planning was "not satisfactory" and he had envisioned a more gradual operation.
The increase in violence and the crackdown's uncertain outcome have brought the war back to centre stage in the US presidential election at a time when Washington is preparing to withdraw 20,000 troops over the next four months.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki personally oversaw the crackdown, and US commanders say they were given just days notice.
Despite the failings of the initial operation, US commanders have described the overall crackdown in Basra as a success, not least because Iraqi forces took the lead and rapidly dispatched 6,600 extra troops to the area.
Iraqi forces have continued raids on suspected militiamen in Basra since the main fighting there ended, and freed a kidnapped British journalist on Monday when they stormed the house where he was being held.
A British military spokesman said an air strike killed four militants who fired at Iraqi troops in Basra early today.