Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Salahuddin handed over to Iraqi army
Security
US-led coalition forces in Iraq handed over operational control of the central Salahuddin province to the Iraqi army's fourth division on Monday. The handover marked the second divisional transfer of power to Iraqi control since September 7. Earlier, coalition forces had handed over control of Iraq's armed forces command to the government. The country's 10 military divisions include around 130,000 troops, and despite the transfer of operational control, most still remain under American control.
In a news conference in Baghdad on Monday, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabagh said that Iraqi forces will take over security responsibility for the southern Dhi Qar province on Thursday. In July, British troops had handed control of southern Muthana province to Iraq.
COMMENT: Samarra is in Salahuddin and has been a consistent centre of the insurgent activity. In February they attacked the Askariyah Shrine in Samarra leading to reprisal sectarian killings. Tikrit, Saddam's hometown, and a strong support base of former regime elements is also in Salahuddin. It is questionable whether an Iraqi army division is ready to control the province. COMMENT ENDS.
