AC: "Yes, this is a big deal...for many, many reasons."


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Length: 2:59


ANDERSON COOPER: It was an especially bloody day in Iraq. Insurgent attacks and a coalition air strike left more an a hundred people dead.

Also today, U.S. and Iraqi forces raided an Iraq health ministry complex in central Baghdad, arresting the deputy health minister. The minister is also a senior member of a political group loyal to a radical Shia cleric.

CNN's Michael Ware joins us live from Baghdad with details.

Michael, is this a big deal? What does it mean?

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is a big deal, Anderson, for many, many reasons.

For a start, this was an operation where we saw the use of the Iraqi Special Forces. This is a contentious group, very well trained unit. However, they answer to the American military and not to this government. So this government has no control over what these men do.

And then what happens? All of a sudden, without warning, according to the Iraqi Health Ministry, these special forces and their American Green Beret counterparts show up at the Ministry of Health complex, storm inside and take away the deputy health minister.

Now, this is not an arrest by the Iraqi government. This is an arrest or a detaining by the U.S. military. So some people are seeing this as an affront upon the government's sovereignty.

And also this is one of Muqtada al-Sadr's men, the rebel anti-American cleric, or as the military describes him, a rogue member of his faction. Either way, this is an assault on Muqtada, and it's certainly an assault on the external players from Iran who back Muqtada and his elements.

COOPER: So, do you think the prime minister, al-Maliki, knew it was coming?

WARE: Well, that's what we're waiting to find out. Certainly, the Iraqi health minister, obviously, a Muqtada loyalist like everyone in that ministry -- and bear in mind, Anderson, this government is just a coalition of different militias. And they sat back and carved up the ministries, and one of the four that Muqtada got was health. So essentially, the health ministry is run by this militia. So, you know, this is significant in that regard.

What are they going do about it? Not a great deal. They're not going take to the streets in armed struggle to retrieve this guy. They're much, much smarter than that. We don't expect to see that coming into play.

COOPER: So is this part of the new strategy? Is this a sign the new strategy is working? All things that will be playing out in the next couple of days. Michael Ware from Baghdad.

Michael, thanks.