BAGHDAD — An Iraqi combat unit has expanded its area of
responsibility in Baghdad.
The Iraqi Army's Sixth Division has been assigned more territory
in the nation's capital as part of a U.S.-led effort to transfer security
duties to Iraq's military and security forces.
Last week, the Iraqi
division's 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade was given additional areas of
northwest and north central Baghdad, Middle East Newsline reported.
"This was a transfer of authority of two large districts in the capital
city of Baghdad from the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division to the Iraqi
Army," U.S. Army Col. David Bishop, commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st
Armored Division, said.
Officials said the transfer marked the success of Iraqi military and
police operations in central and western Baghdad. The Iraq Army's Sixth
Division
was given responsibility over the area in January 2005.
"We have looked forward to expanding our operation and our work," Iraqi
Lt. Col. Karben Qusay, commander of the 1st Battalion, based in the Adamiya
section of Baghdad, said. "We have the full ability to expand our area of
operations. We are ready to be responsible for more."
The transfer of responsibility took place as the U.S. military conducted
a review of the combat-readiness of Iraqi military units. The U.S. review
determined that three of 81 Iraqi battalions could battle insurgents without
U.S. assistance.
On Sunday, the 1st Battalion as well as other Iraqi military units
participated in a raid of insurgency strongholds in the western Baghdad
district of Abu Ghraib. Officials said Iraqi and U.S. forces captured an
unspecified number of suspected insurgents.
"Iraqi army and Ministry of Interior forces worked very well together
and demonstrated good, solid fundamental skills today," U.S. Army Col. Mark
Milley, a brigade commander, said. "The heavy mix of Shia, Sunni and Kurdish
soldiers focused on their common terrorist enemy with great cooperation."
Officials said the 1st Battalion's sector has now been extended to cover
one fourth of Baghdad. Until 2005, the U.S. Army controlled Baghdad, with
specific responsibility assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
The additional area secured by the Iraq Army's 1st Battalion covers
500,000 people. The battalion, trained by the Cavalry regiment, was expected
to patrol the Shaab section of Baghdad.
"There are seven zones in the area of Adamiya, and when I came here in
January, we controlled five of those seven zones," U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jim
Blackburn, commander of the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment,
said.
Blackburn said the transfer of security responsibility to the Iraq Army
was based on its performance in policing Baghdad neighborhoods. He said the
Iraqi 1st Battalion has shown," an excellent display of leadership and
technical capabilities."
