Those forces, whatever they might be, were still operating, and perhaps I had already come too close.

Forces are operating here that we have no control over.

The situation might be even worse if international forces, especially the Americans, were not operating in the area.

Without it, no military force can operate for a moment.

"We will not let the American forces operate in our areas."

These forces don't often operate in the way you'd expect.

The question is: do all the forces operating in the area have a common strategy?

They may not be the only irregular forces operating in the south.

Those forces mostly operated in areas not under Saddam's control.

Then he has to seek agreement from all groups that the force can actually operate.