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Iraq's first multi-battalion force joins 'Steel Curtain' op
BAGHDAD â The Iraq Army has launched its first operation using a force of several battalions. Officials said Operation Steel Curtain was testing the Iraq Army's ability to launch battalion-size missions. They said the operation along the border with Syria was the first time that several Iraqi battalions were fighting alongside U.S. forces.Iraq has about 120 combat battalions and a total of more than 211,000 soldiers and police, Middle East Newsline reported. In Anbar, Iraq has operated nearly two divisions, with 10 infantry battalions. "Operation Steel Curtain marks the first large-scale employment of multiple battalion-sized units of Iraqi army forces in combined operations with coalition forces in the last year," the U.S. military said. "This is the largest concentration of Iraqi Army forces to take part in an operation in Al Anbar this year." The military said the Iraqi force also included platoon scouts recruited from the Qaim region. The scouts have been embedded in combat units and were "helping to identify insurgent strong points and areas known to contain these homemade bombs." Posted by: Steve White 2005-11-08 |
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