"These signs show that we are working with our partners and that we're
abiding by the security agreement," Maj. Frazier Epperson of the army's 1st
Cavalry Division, said. "These signs explain to the Iraqis that our vehicles
are allowed by the Iraqi government in this province to be in the cities."
Officials said the U.S. Army has been asked to continue security
operations in Kirkuk amid rising tension between Kurds and Arabs. They said
the army reinforced its presence in Kirkuk in 2009 to prevent a
confrontation between the Iraqi military and Kurdish security forces.
Under the security agreement, U.S. military units were redeployed
outside
Iraqi cities. Officials said joint security patrols and reconstruction
operations have been conducted at the discretion of the Baghdad government.
"U.S. forces serving in an advisory and assistance role continue to
travel within the city [Kirkuk] to meet with their Iraqi counterparts or
government
officials," the U.S. military said on July 9.
Officials said the U.S. military has also continued operations in
Baghdad. They said Iraqi and U.S. forces were cooperating in joint
operations centers.
The U.S. redeployment has sparked mass-casualty attacks in the northern
Iraqi province of Nineveh. Police said more than 40 people were killed and
80 injured in twin suicide bombings in Tal Afar on July 8 and July 9.
"It is clear that these attacks have been conducted by Al Qaida and
remnants of the Baath Party," Iraqi Vice President Adul Abdul Mahdi said.
