Sources: Captured documents prove Iran supporting both Sunni and Shia to foment strife

WASHINGTON — Iran is supporting both Sunni and Shiite terrorists in the Iraqi civil war, according to secret Iranian documents captured by Americans in Iraq.

The news that American forces had captured Iranians in Iraq was widely reported last month, but less well known is that the Iranians were carrying documents that offered Americans insight into Iranian activities in Iraq.

An American intelligence official said the new material, which has been authenticated within the intelligence community, confirms "that Iran is working closely with both the Shiite militias and Sunni Jihadist groups." The source was careful to stress that the Iranian plans do not extend to cooperation with Baathist groups fighting the government in Baghdad, and said the documents rather show how the Quds Force — the arm of Iran's revolutionary guard that supports Shiite Hezbollah, Sunni Hamas, and Shiite death squads — is working with individuals affiliated with Al Qaeda in Iraq and Ansar al-Sunna.

Another American official who has seen the summaries of the reporting affiliated with the arrests said it comprised a "smoking gun." "We found plans for attacks, phone numbers affiliated with Sunni bad guys, a lot of things that filled in the blanks on what these guys are up to," the official said.

One of the documents captured in the raids, according to two American officials and one Iraqi official, is an assessment of the Iraq civil war and new strategy from the Quds Force. According to the Iraqi source, that assessment is the equivalent of " Iran's Iraq Study Group," a reference to the bipartisan American commission that released war strategy recommendations after the November 7 elections. The document concludes, according to these sources, that Iraq's Sunni neighbors will step up their efforts to aid insurgent groups and that it is imperative for Iran to redouble efforts to retain influence with them, as well as with Shiite militias.

Read the rest at the NY Sun

Related Link:
Iraq 'Expels' 2 Iranians Detained by U.S.

Related Link:
Report: Two Iranians held by U.S. troops in Iraq are released

Related Link:
Exile Group: Captured Iranians Were Part of Elite Force

Related Link:
Iraqi President Talabani upset by arrest of Iranians by U.S. forces

Related Link:
U.S. Holding Iranians Seized in Iraq Raids

Related Link:
Analysis: Iran-Saudi proxy war in Iraq feared

Related Link:
Saudi March '06 Report: Iranian 'Shi'ite State' inside Iraq

Related Link:
Private Saudis reportedly funding Sunni insurgents