BAGHDAD — For the first time since the Saddam Hussein regime, Iraqi
security forces have taken responsibility for the nation's capital.
A senior military official said Iraq Army and police units have taken
charge of the security of Baghdad. During the ongoing "Operation Rule of Law," the
Iraq Army, supervised by the U.S.-led coalition, was given the lead
in operations throughout the city.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, about 1,200 U.S. and Iraqi troops raided Baghdad's Sadr
City, the headquarters of the Iranian-sponsored Mahdi Army. Officials said
the operation did not encounter resistance, Middle East Newsline reported.
"They are very capable, competent, and the ability to plan and
coordinate operations with coalition forces gets better every day," Brig.
Gen. Joseph Anderson, chief of staff of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, said of the Iraqis.
"We know hard days certainly lie ahead," Anderson added.
"In the past, we have been able to clear areas, but were not able to
hold the areas and secure them over time," Anderson said. "We must
demonstrate our ability to maintain the security in Baghdad over a long
period of time."
In February, Anderson said, the Iraq Army and police progressed
significantly in command skills. He said coalition and Iraqi forces
constructed joint security stations and combat outposts throughout Baghdad
in a move that terminated the policy of working out of forward-operating
bases.
Operation Rule of Law was designed by the Iraqi government and led by
Iraq Army Lt. Gen. Abboud Gambar. Officials said the army, which intends to
establish a 24-hour presence, has established a command post in Adnan Palace
in the International Zone.
Officials acknowledged that the Iraqi military and police presence in
Baghdad — comprised of the army's 6th and 9th divisions and two National
police divisions — was far from full strength. They said they hope to
deploy at least 20,000 Iraqi soldiers and police in Baghdad.
"The soldiers are ready, motivated and excited about this mission and
want to be a part of it," U.S. Army Lt. Col. Art Grimwald, a senior
coalition advisor, said. "Before [under Saddam] soldiers were forced into
joining. Now the army is composed of an entire volunteer force."
The U.S. Army intends to deploy up to 15 brigade combat teams in
Baghdad. Officials said the deployment would be completed by the end of May.
At this point, the Iraqi-U.S. military presence in Baghdad has resulted
in fewer attacks. Officials reported about 90 attacks per day in the city, a
decrease of as many as 20 from 2006.
On Monday, at least 30 people were killed in a suicide car bombing in
central Baghdad. This was the first major bombing in the capital in several
days.
