 Even though all military activities ceased by 6 August , stories of atrocities committed by the Assyrians at Dirabun and rumours that Christians were planning to blow bridges up and poison drinking water in major Iraqi cities spread . According to some historians , the agitation against Assyrians was also encouraged by Rashid Ali al @-@ Gaylani 's Arab nationalist government , which saw it as a distraction to the continuous Shiite revolt in the southern part of the country . 
