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Iraqi forces improving, sez Lynch
BAGHDAD â U.S. officials said the Iraqi security forces have more than 212,000 trained and equipped soldiers and police. They said the military was training and deploying soldiers and police at a rate of nearly 1,000 per week.Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said 120 Iraq Army and police battalions have joined the war against Sunni insurgents. Lynch said 25 percent of the battalions were able to take the lead on counter-insurgency operations. On Oct. 28, the U.S.-led coalition transferred security responsibility for the Diyala province to the Iraq Army, Middle East Newsline reported. The Multi-National Force said 3,000 U.S. soldiers from Task Force Liberty have been replaced by the Iraq Army's 1st Brigade of the 5th Division. Officials said Iraqi security forces continue to be hampered by poor logistics. But they said Iraqi soldiers and police have been increasingly effective in collecting and processing tactical intelligence, many of them composed of tips from Iraqi civilians. "The Iraqi 1st Brigade continues to train and equip its forces while providing command and control for battalion-sized operations in eastern Diyala Province," a U.S. military statement said. "The regiment achieved significant success during its operations in eastern Diyala Province. Troopers of the regimental combat team conducted more than 13,000 combat patrols during their eleven months of service." Officials said 17 bases have been turned over to the Iraq Army. They said the army has been in charge of an entire province as well as a large section of Baghdad. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Iraq now has more than 100 military and police battalions engaged in battle. Rumsfeld said the security forces were "well respected by the Iraqi people," who have provided increased tips on insurgency activity and whereabouts. Posted by: Steve White 2005-11-23 |
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