The holy city of Najaf is reported to be the scene of intense combat on Monday. U.S.-led coalition forces and Iraqi troops are claiming to have killed as many as 300 gunmen so far. Three Iraqi soldiers were reported killed, but no American casualties have been reported beyond the loss of the two-man crew of a helicopter shot down. The coalition expected Shi’a clerics and thousands of pilgrims flocking to Najaf to celebrate the festival of Ashura to be the target of attacks. The festival marks the martyrdom of a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad in the year 680 AD (CE).