BAGHDAD, IRAQ: Iraqi and Coalition forces in and around Baghdad captured more than 100 insurgents and defused 147 improved explosive devices during the past week as part of continued security operations, according to Iraqi and Coalition spokesmen. One insurgent was killed, six kidnap victims liberated and about 700 kilograms of TNT discovered during security sweeps in the past seven days, said Iraqi Army spokesman Major General Qassim Atta during a press conference in Baghdad today.
The current security plan, called Fardh al-Qanoon, or `Enforcing the Law,’ has been in place since early 2007, when U.S. planners began implementing a U.S. troop surge and divided Baghdad into separate security districts. Iraq forces now lead operations in all three of Iraq’s major cities, Baghdad, Basrah and Mosul and are operating in Amarah, where the Iraqi Army is currently battle elements of the Mahdi Army, said U.S. Rear Admiral Patrick Driscoll at the same press conference.
“So far in Amarah, there has been little resistance to the extension of the rule of law,” Driscoll said. “There are still foreign terrorists who want to reconstitute their forces. Elements of Al-Qaeda” and Iranian-supported “Special Groups are still in Baghdad, but they are under pressure.”
Iraqi forces kicked off a security operation last week in the southern province of Maysan, arresting the mayor of Amarah, Rafeaa Jabar, who also acted as Maysan’s deputy governor. Amarah, the provincial capital of Maysan, serves as the one of the major distribution points for weapons entering into southern Iraq from Iran and was the most significant Mahdi-controlled area in Iraq after control of Basrah and Sadr City were taken by Iraqi national forces.
As Iraqi government control over Baghdad solidifies, ministries are attempting to return families displaced from their homes during the past five years of conflict. In July, a national list of homes occupied illegally by people will be published by the government, allowing more than 100,000 displaced families from around the country to move back into homes they previously occupied.
`”The success of Fardh al-Qanoon is connected with the return of displaced families in Iraq,'” said General Atta. “Forces will raid the homes and remove occupants” if they do not leave voluntarily. About 20,000 families have returned to their former homes and about $140 million has been allocated as compensation, Atta said.
An increase in public events such as wedding receptions at hotels and the opening of national embassies is anecdotal evidence of improving security in Baghdad, Atta said. In May, the Sadrist movement and the Iraqi government signed a cease-fire that allowed the military to enter the Mahdi Army stronghold of Sadr City uncontested.
9 Comments
Mopping up? What was the latest assessment on when Baghdad will go PIC? The symbolism of that will be huge.
They appear to be working north with PIC.
Diwaniyah hands off next month.
Anbar is on the PM’s desk for decision/
Then Babil and Wassit.
Baghdad is planned after that = Fall at earliest.
DJ,
Can you please comment as to IA/IP ability to maintain security in Iraq cities after a significant US troop draw down?
mjr007
First define significant drawdown and define the security threat.
In Jan we had 20 combat brigades of US and 3 of coalition. Next month we will be down to 15 US and 1 coalition. By next Jan we will probably be down to 12 US and 1 coalition.
Do you consider that significant? 2.5 divisions of US and coalition removed in one year from a six Div force…
The IA is the teeth of a COIN force without a proper tail. A quarter of the force is is less than a year old. Even with the increases this year, the support structure will be insufficient. More will be needed. But, they can and are taking over the teeth jobs of internal security.
But, you need more than infantry and supply to enforce your country’s soverenty against the neighbors:
– Engrs are 2009/10 development,
– Artl is 2009-2011,
– Corps and Corps Troops is 2009-2012,
– Armor is insufficient, and
– Air is at least a decade away.
Those are just some of the majors.
When they say overwatch, they mean tripwire for war against Iran if they try to replicate 1950 Korea.
The Iraqi army is about where the ROKA was in June 1950: Light infantry with no significant heavy support.
Even Kuwait could beat them with the firepower difference ATT.
Soon I will be updating the end-2012 predictions. I did not pick that date out of a hat. That is when I expect Air to be the only real problem that we will have to cover…
Update to PIC (Anbar must have been signed by PM today. Yesterday’s brief said it was pending high-level decision.)
Anbar 28 June 2008
Diwaniyah early-July 2008
DJ,
Thank you for your response. I am not a military person but in general my biggest fear is that in absense of US backup the IA/IP will shrink away from significant security challenges. Yes, they’ve done a heck of a job of late but is there a sense among IA/IP of emboldenment due to US “got your back” presence?
Also, visited with my recently-returned SGTMAJ candidate relative that expressed concern regarding the lack of Iraqi commitment to the overall self-sufficient corps in Iraq. Seems many of the IA officers are in it for the take. Without a significant US presence there will they fight and earn their keep?
Mjr007, this is precisely why Barack Obama’s plan for having all US combat troops out of Iraq within 16 months of taking office could lead to an absolute diasaster. I’m hoping that he is aware of this and is just making this 16-month promise to placate his hard left base. (As we all should know by now, he doesn’t seem to have any problem going back on his word when it suits him politically to do so.)
As an aside, here’s an excellent report on the Basra operation that I found on The Weekly Standard’s website:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/IraqReport09.pdf
It goes into quite a bit of detail regarding why Prime Minister Al-Maliki acted when he did.
“….and about 700 kilograms of TNT discovered during security sweeps in the past seven days”
That’s a really significant amount. Some of the arms caches we’ve seen in the past have been small private stocks or old rusty Sadam era stuff, but this seems like a lot of hard-core explosives in a short period of time. Encouraging.
The news that they’re not just sweeping home repossession under the rug is very good too. I can imagine how all that might seem to hard to sort out and they might just try to start anew from here, but the pain of being displaced from your home lingers for decades. Good move Malaki, et. al. Nice to see the Iraqis standing up to some tough situations and showing real courage and leadership.
Dan thanks for that link, was interesting reading.