BAGHDAD — Officials here said Iraqi forces have captured 32 members of a Shi'ite death squad
as well as its leader. They said a spate of death squads — many of them
believed connected to the Iranian-sponsored Mahdi Army — have been
operating in the Baghdad area, which resulted in record civilian casualties
in July and August 2006.
"We're moving step by step, section by section, and it will take some
time," U.S. Central Command chief Gen. John Abizaid said. "We will begin to
really see whether or not we're being successful in a month or two."
Iraq's security forces have accelerated preparations for
the Islamic fast month of Ramadan, Middle East Newsline reported.
Officials said the Iraq Army and national police units have conducted
more than 600 security operations in the past two weeks to disrupt
insurgency plans for Ramadan. They said Al Qaida and aligned insurgency
groups have sought to increase attacks on civilians during Ramadan, which
begins over the weekend.
"Historically, Ramadan has been a period of increased violence," U.S.
military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said. "Iraqi security forces,
with coalition forces in support, have plans to address this concern."
[On Thursday, Iraq assumed security responsibility for the southern
province of Dhi Qar. This was the second of 18 provinces taken over by the
Baghdad government.]
Caldwell told a Sept. 20 briefing that Iraqi and coalition forces have
conducted 10 operations to foil Iraqi and foreign insurgents as well as
reduce sectarian violence. He said Al Qaida-aligned strikes have increased
in the provinces of Anbar, Baghdad, Diyala and Saleh Eddin.
"Iraqi security forces and coalition forces will remain vigilant and
adjust our tactics as necessary," Caldwell said.
Officials said Iraq and the United States have assessed that insurgents
would increase their use of suicide car bombs during Ramadan. On Thursday,
the Iraqi Defense Ministry said insurgents have been abducting drivers,
stuffing their vehicles with explosives and detonating them near Iraqi and
U.S. military targets.
"A motorist is kidnapped with his car," the ministry said. "They then
boobytrap the car without the driver knowing. Then, the kidnapped driver is
released and threatened to drive along a certain road."
The statement said the abductors track the car and when it reaches a
checkpoint or army patrol "the criminal terrorists who follow the driver
detonate the car from a distance."