BAGHDAD — Iraq has launched its largest counter-insurgency offensive
in a major test of the nation's military and security forces.
The Iraqi Army and security forces began Operation Lightening, a cordon
and search mission around Baghdad. Iraqi troops erected more than 150 of a
planned 675 checkpoints and raided suspected insurgency strongholds in the
shantytowns of the nation's capital.
Within hours, the operation turned bloody. Officials said around 30
people were killed on Sunday, nine of them soldiers shot dead in an
insurgency attack on a checkpoint at Yusefiah, about 20 kilometers south of
Baghdad, Middle East Newsline reported. Others were killed in suicide car bomb attacks and an assault on a
police station.
"With the escalating operations by security forces, we expect such
reactions coming to the surface," Iraqi government spokesman Laith Kuba
said. "But this will have no affect on the operations."
[On Monday, at least 25 Iraqi police officers were killed in a suicide
bombing in Hila, about 100 kilometers south of Baghdad. The officers were
said to have been members of a special operations unit.]
Operation Lightening was meant to consist of more than 40,000 Iraqi
soldiers and police. Officials said the troops have sought seal off Baghdad
and conduct house-to-house searches in troublesome neighborhoods.
By Sunday evening, more than 500 suspects, including the leader of a
Sunni political party, were reported to have been arrested. Officials said
several arms caches were uncovered in what was deemed the start of a major
test by Iraq's military and security forces.
"It's an important signpost on this journey, and we'll have to wait and
see to see how well they do," Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. Joint
Chief of Staff, said.
Officials said the 10,000 soldiers of the U.S. Army deployed in Baghdad
have been supporting the operation.
The operation has divided Baghdad into two zones. The Karkh sector
included the west bank of the Tigris river; Risafa contained the east bank.
Officials said the current mission would test the interoperability and
jointness of Iraqi military and security forces. They said a command and
control center was established to monitor and help operate Defense Ministry
and Interior Ministry forces.
The first test of Iraqi military jointness came during Operation Squeeze
Play earlier in May. Officials said 428 insurgency suspects were detained in
an operation that involved Iraqi soldiers, police, special police commandos
and coalition soldiers.
"This is just the beginning of a new era of cooperation between the
Iraqi Police, Public Order Brigades and the Iraqi Army," Col. Joseph
DiSalvo, commander, 2nd Brigade, 3rd U.S. Infantry Division, said.
