On Saturday, Smith told a news conference that a U.S. combat brigade
would leave Iraq over the next few weeks, Middle East Newsline reported. The U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade, 1st
Cavalry Division has been deployed in the Diyala province.
Officials said the military would withdraw 20,000 soldiers by July 2008.
About 162,000 U.S. soldiers have been reported deployed in Iraq.
"If conditions continue to permit, a total of five brigade combat teams
will be redeployed over the next eight months," Smith said.
The withdrawal of the 3rd Brigade would prompt a redeployment throughout
central and northern Iraq. Officials said U.S. units would be moved to
Diyala, regarded as stronghold of Al Qaida.
Commanders said that the U.S.-led coalition has significantly
reduced violence in Diyala. They said Al Qaida has been severely limited in
its operations as tens of thousands of Sunnis have joined police and
auxiliary units.
In Diyala, about 3,000 Iraqis have joined the auxiliary police, termed
"Concerned Local Citizens." Officials reported a 68 percent drop in
killings, kidnapping and suicide attacks in Diyala since April 2007.
Instead, Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias have emerged as a significant
threat in Iraq. The military reported that four members of an Iranian-backed
Shi'ite cell confessed to bombing a public market in central Baghdad on Nov.
23.
"Based on subsequent confessions, forensics and other intelligence, the
bombing was the work of an Iranian-backed special groups cell operating here
in Baghdad," Smith said.