BAGHDAD — A leading Iraq Army has been killed in an insurgency
attack.
Officials said the Sunni commander of the Iraq Army 6th Division was
slain on March 6 in Baghdad. They said the convoy of Maj. Gen. Mubdar Hatim
Hazya Al
Duleimi came under fire in Kadamiyah, northwest of the Iraqi capital.
"General Mubdar was a true Iraqi patriot," U.S. Army Maj. Gen. J.D.
Thurman, commanding general, Multinational Division Baghdad, said. "His loss
will be felt by this command."
[On Wednesday, Sunnis apparently sought to retaliate for the killing of
Mudbar. A convoy from the Interior Ministry was struck by a bomb in Baghdad
and one person was killed, Middle East Newsline reported. Interior Minister Bayan Jaber, a Shi'ite and a
major target of Sunni insurgents, was not in the convoy.]
On Feb. 20, the Iraq Army 6th Division assumed control of areas in
central and southern Baghdad from the U.S. Army's 4th Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division. During the transfer-of-authority ceremony, Mubdar
expressed optimism about his unit's mission.
"This tragic incident will neither impede the 6th Iraqi Army Division
from continuing its mission of securing Baghdad nor derail the formation of
the government of Iraq," U.S. Army Gen. George Casey, commander of
Multinational Force Iraq, said.
Officials said Iraq plans to create an army with 10 divisions. They said
the army now exceeds 100,000 soldiers as Iraq has also re-established an air
force and navy. On Tuesday, the Iraq Air Force established its first
operational C-130 squadron located at a military base near Baghdad
International Airport.
Over the last few days, Iraqi security forces have graduated nearly 300
recruits. On March 5, a graduation ceremony was held for Iraqi soldiers of
the newly-formed Headquarters and Support Company. The company, composed of
three specialized platoons, was attached to the army's 2nd Division,
4th Brigade, 1st Battalion in Mosul.
In Najaf, 167 recruits graduated from the police academy on March 4. The
U.S. military has agreed to establish another police academy to train and
equip Iraqi security forces. Until now, many Iraqi recruits have been
trained in Jordan.
