In a Dec. 19 briefing, Bacon said the U.S.-led surge in Baghdad has
driven Al Qaida out of many neighborhoods of the capital, Middle East Newsline reported. He said the
coalition has been pursuing Al Qaida in Diyala as well as other northern
provinces.
Al Qaida has acknowledged losses in Iraq. On Saturday, Al Qaida
confirmed the death of Abu Maysara, a top operative killed in a battle in
November 2007. Abu Maysara was identified as a Syrian national and one of
nine senior Al Qaida operatives killed in November.
Officials said the Al Qaida flight resulted in a decrease in violence in
much of Baghdad. They said the improvement in security has been greatest in
northern and western Baghdad.
"From a security perspective, there has been significant progress," U.S.
Army Col. Paul Funk, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Brigade
Combat Team, said. "We have seen attacks drop from an average of 150 a week
in [the] late January and February timeframe, to less than 10 attacks a
week. The result has been nothing short of phenomenal."
Funk said Al Qaida has been hampered by a rapid growth in Iraqi security
forces, particularly the auxiliary police. He said Al Qaida been
marginalized in his sector.
"We're in the pursuit phase of this operation," Funk said. "They are
much more concerned about me now than I am about them."
