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Tuesday, October 2, 2007      New: Take a Stand

Iraqis begin replacing U.S. troops in Anbar

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi military has begun to replace the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.

"Iraqis are taking the lead in Anbar in planning and conducting operations with some advice from the coalition," U.S. Brig. Gen. Charles Gurganus said.

Officials said Iraqi soldiers and security forces have been replacing thousands of U.S. soldiers and sailors deployed in Iraq. They said the expansion of the Iraq Army and security forces has enabled members of the U.S.-led coalition to begin withdrawing troops from the Anbar province.

[On Monday, the U.S. military reported that seven Al Qaida insurgents were killed and another 11 were captured in central and northern Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported. The military said the casualties included Al Qaida chiefs in Baghdad, Diyala and Mosul.]

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Gurganus, a Marine Corps officer who serves as ground element commander in Iraq's Anbar province, said the Iraq Army and security forces have improved to the point where they could replace some U.S. combat units. So far, he said, Iraqi soldiers have replaced 2,200 U.S. Marines and sailors.

At a briefing on Sept. 30, Gurganus cited the 13th Marine Amphibious Unit, deployed north of Faluja. He said the unit, which represented about half of the U.S. surge forces in Anbar, has been replaced by the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Iraqi Army Division, based in Faluja.

"Due to the improving conditions in Faluja, this brigade has moved completely out of the city, and Faluja is in the hands of its police, advised by some Marines that are still working with the police," Gurganus said. "Their deployment not only significantly increased security in Faluja and Ramadi, but also here in Baghdad."

Officials said the replacement of the Marine unit represented a significant achievement in U.S. military plans to reduce its presence in Iraq in 2008. The Defense Department has reported about 170,000 troops in Iraq, the highest level since the invasion of 2003.

The Iraq Army has been preparing to assume responsibility for the southern provinces by 2008. Officials said this would result in a significant decrease of British troops, who for the last four years have been patrolling Basra and other Iraqi provinces.

"We are prepared to take over security of Basra within two months and we will," Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki said on Tuesday. "Basra will be one of the provinces where Iraqi forces will completely take over security."

Gurganus expected other Iraqi units to replace U.S. combat forces. He said the Iraqi 7th Army Division, also based in Anbar, was close to 100 percent of its strength, and would soon come under the responsibility of the Iraqi Ground Forces Command. The Iraqi division has been under U.S. military command.

Still, the lion's share of the Iraq Army has been struggling to achieve independence from the coalition. Officials said most Iraqi troops, who remain without competent commanders, cannot operate on their own.

"Can they step out and do it on their own? My answer to that would be no," Gurganus said.

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