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WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 27, 2008) - The security situation in
Iraq's northern provinces has improved, but Iraqi and coalition
troops will continue to pursue al-Qaida in Iraq and other criminal
groups, the U.S. commander in the region said during a briefing in
Baghdad today.
Army Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, the commander of Multinational
Division - North, told reporters that the number of security
incidents in his area of operations has dropped from more than
2,600 in June 2007 to 650 in June 2008. The numbers for July 2008
continue to show a reduction.
Hertling said Iraqi commanders will launch a major offensive
against al-Qaida and criminal gangs in Diyala province next month.
U.S. forces will launch a concurrent offensive - Operation Iron
Pursuit - against al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists who are seeking
sanctuary in the desert.
The success of the surge in Baghdad forced al-Qaida in Iraq to
move out of the city mostly to the northern provinces of Diyala,
Ninewah and Salah ad Din. These areas became the main battlefield
as coalition, and increasingly, Iraqi forces hunted down the
terrorists and killed or captured them. The cities are now
"reasonably secure," Hertling said, and the Iraqi and coalition
forces can shift focus to hunting down al-Qaida and its allies
outside the cities.
Other indicators also point to progress, Hertling said. The
number of roadside bombs declined by 50 percent since February 2008
from 950 to 430.
"That's not to say we still don't have threats," the general
said. Suicide vest attacks and car bombs remain a problem in Diyala
and the city of Mosul. On July 24, a woman wearing a suicide vest
killed eight Iraqis and wounded 30 others in Baquba. Last month
another suicide bomber killed Iraqi police and recruits in the
city.
The number of Iraqis killed by terrorists wearing suicide vests
has been about 250. Car bombs killed a further 1,500.
"These are random, violent acts conducted by these violent
terrorists and that's why we are not only continuing to go after
those who do these things, but the networks that support them," he
said.
Iraqi and coalition forces are continuing Operation Mother of
Two Springs in Ninewah and Mosul.
"We are beginning ... Operations Omens of Prosperity ... in
Diyala province to begin in early August," he said. While the Iraqi
army will lead the operations, coalition forces will continue to
partner with Iraqi forces.
Coalition forces will go after the support zones for al-Qaida in
Iraq. "Our message in conducting that operation is we have secured
the key cities of the north and we have seen al-Qaida continue to
be pushed into the support zones - the areas of the desert - and we
will continue to relentlessly pursue them into those areas,"
Hertling said.
In addition to their own operation, U.S. forces will partner
with Iraqi soldiers and police units to provide them enablers: fire
support, intelligence, artillery, some logistics, engineers and
some aviation, Hertling said.
Security is better in the north because of the increased number
of Iraqi police and Iraqi army units, Hertling said. Still the
security forces are undermanned and can use more capabilities.
The Iraqi Ground Forces Command has moved a headquarters to the
area outside Baquba.
"They will be bringing together in early August the elements of
four Iraq army divisions, some additional Iraqi National Police and
they will be linked very closely with police forces in Diyala
itself," Hertling said. The Iraqi command is working closely with
local Sons of Iraq groups.
This improved security has allowed a greater economic
development in the four northern provinces. The markets are open,
the roads are being paved and electric lines going up and being
repaired. Oil exports are at an all-time high, Hertling said. "This
allows for greater political interaction between the government of
Iraq and the provinces as they ready for the up-coming vote," he
said.
Al-Qaida is not giving up easily, the general said. There are
intimidation tactics going on throughout the northern provinces,
but especially in Mosul - Iraq's second-largest city. The
terrorists have been targeting Iraqi security force, the police and
Iraqi intellectuals.
"There are still attacks in Mosul, but they have been greatly
reduced," Hertling said. Again, the markets are open, but more
needs to be done to improve the employment situation in the region.
"The combination of the Iraqi security plan has significantly
reduced the attacks and the flow of insurgents into the city," he
said. "What needs to happen now is the Iraqi government and the
provincial governments is continuing to improve the economic
conditions of the city."
And insurgents are increasingly allying with the Iraqi
government. "More than 2,100 former insurgents in our area that
have turned themselves in and said, 'I don't want to fight anymore,
I'm tired of running, I want to be part of the political process,'"
Hertling said. "More of that will happen as people see the
increasing strength of the Iraqi government."
The upcoming operations will cover an area the size of New
Jersey, the general said. "It's hot out there and dusty," he said.
"The temperature the last time I was in Baquba was 127
degrees."
Hertling said much remains to be done in the region. "There will
be continued operations as long as the Iraqi people are
threatened," he said.
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