BAGHDAD — U.S. officials said the Iraqi security forces have more than 212,000
trained and equipped soldiers and police.
They said the military was
training and deploying soldiers and police at a rate of nearly 1,000 per
week.
Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said 120
Iraq Army and police battalions have joined the war against Sunni
insurgents. Lynch said 25 percent of the battalions were able to take the
lead on counter-insurgency operations.
On Oct. 28, the U.S.-led coalition transferred security responsibility
for the Diyala province to the Iraq Army, Middle East Newsline reported. The Multi-National Force said
3,000 U.S. soldiers from Task Force Liberty have been replaced by the Iraq
Army's 1st Brigade of the 5th Division.
Officials said Iraqi security forces continue to be hampered by poor
logistics. But they said Iraqi soldiers and police have been
increasingly effective in collecting and processing tactical intelligence,
many of them composed of tips from Iraqi civilians.
"The Iraqi 1st Brigade continues to train and equip its forces while
providing command and control for battalion-sized operations in eastern
Diyala Province," a U.S. military statement said. "The regiment achieved
significant success during its operations in eastern Diyala Province.
Troopers of the regimental combat team conducted more than 13,000 combat
patrols during their eleven months of service."
Officials said 17 bases have been turned over to the Iraq Army. They
said the army has been in charge of an entire province as well as a large
section of Baghdad.
[On Nov. 19, about 150 Iraqi soldiers and 300 Marines launched Operation
Bruins in Ramadi. Officials said the operation was designed to block Sunni
insurgency routes and search for weapons caches.]
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Iraq now has more than 100
military and police battalions engaged in battle. Rumsfeld said the security
forces were "well respected by the Iraqi people," who have provided
increased tips on insurgency activity and whereabouts.
"They're doing a very good job," Rumsfeld said on Nov. 20. "They're
growing in numbers and they're growing in competence."
