U.S. accelerating pullout of combat personnel from Iraq cities
Monday, June 8, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
BAGHDAD — The U.S. Army and Marine Corps have stepped up the withdrawal of troops and assets from Iraqi cities, including those with an Al Qaida presence.
Officials said the U.S. military would withdraw 80 percent of its personnel from Iraqi cities by June 30. They said the remaining 20 percent would consist of American advisers and non-combat personnel. They said the U.S. military has been redeploying outside cities while maintaining contact with Iraqi commanders.
"What we're going to be doing is non-combat operations," U.S. military commander in Iraq Gen. Raymond Odierno said. "We're going to be in liaison cells."
"We are going to be in cells that can help provide enablers for them such as aviation, such as intelligence, such as other things," Odierno said. "And if they need help, we have those elements there to say, if they request it, then we can bring in combat assistance to help them."
Officials said the U.S. military has already withdrawn from all Iraqi cities with the exception of Baghdad and Mosul. They said the U.S. military was engaged in a major operation against Al Qaida in Mosul expected to end in mid-June.
Odierno said the U.S. military redeployment would not affect joint operations with the Iraq Army and security forces. He acknowledged, however, that Al Qaida and other insurgency elements have penetrated Iraqi units and were attacking U.S. advisers.
In 2009, Iraqi soldiers have attacked their U.S. counterparts at least six times during either joint operations or in joint bases. Officials said the Iraq Army responded quickly to these attacks and captured suspects.
"We have to be vigilant about every individual because there are individuals that have still infiltrated some of the Iraqi security forces," Odierno told a briefing in May 2009.
On June 7, U.S. troops left the first of several bases in the Mosul area in northern Iraq. Combat Outpost Rock, located in southeastern Mosul and meant to facilitate counter-insurgency operations, was closed and the land was returned to its owner.
"The closing of COP Rock will allow Iraqi security forces to take responsibility for security operations and will enable coalition forces to focus more heavily in a training and supervisory role," U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Devin Trathen, who lived on the base, said.