BAGHDAD — Three Iraq Army brigades from the autonomous Kurdistan region in the North have been
deployed to Baghdad as part of the counter-insurgency operation being conducted with the United States.
Officials said insurgency strikes have dropped by 80 percent since the
Baghdad security operation was launched more than a week ago. They said the
biggest drop was in operations by the Iranian-sponsored Mahdi Army in the
city.
Officials said the introduction of Kurdish troops would help reduce the
monopoly of Shi'ite forces in the counter-insurgency mission in Baghdad.
Sunni politicians have complained that the Iraqi-U.S. operation was the
cover of a Shi'ite drive to expel Sunnis from the Iraqi capital.
"The U.S. military has sought a significant Kurdish military presence in
Baghdad for the operation," an official said. "They are regarded as the most
professional of Iraqi security forces."
"Kurdish brigades are well-trained to fight inside cities and
neighborhoods, and they will contribute vigorously in cleansing Baghdad's
suburbs of armed men and outlaws," Kurdistan Defense Minister Jaafar Al
Barazani said.
Officials said the Kurdish brigades, with
about 7,500 troops, are already in Baghdad, Middle East Newsline reported.
Barazani said the brigades have been responsible for the security of
northern Iraq, which borders Iran, Syria and Turkey. He said the brigades
would come under the authority of the Iraq Army high command.
Officials said the Kurdish brigades would also be used in any operation
against Iranian-sponsored Shi'ite militias. They said Kurdish units have
been deployed near Sadr City, regarded as headquarters of the Mahdi Army.
The Kurdish Peshmerga force, which supplies soldiers to the Iraq Army,
was said to comprise 80,000. Officials said the Kurdistan government has
sought to increase the force by 50 percent to prepare for any Turkish attack
on northern Iraq.
"There's a lot of criticism within the Kurdish government over
participating in the Baghdad security mission," an official said. "The fear
is that the Kurds will become a target of Sunnis."
