Friday, February 23, 2007
Attacks increase in outlying villages as security plan targets Baghdad
Security
(Azzaman) The Baghdad security plan in which tens of thousands of Iraqi and U.S. troops are taking part is faltering, officials said. The officials, refusing to be named, said while violence has relatively receded in certain quarters in the capital, insurgents and terrorists have increased attacks in other parts and in areas outlying Baghdad.
The insurgents have apparently shifted their focus on towns and villages south and north of Baghdad where pitched battles are reported amid a substantial rise in U.S. casualties and losses, they said. Car and suicide bombings in Baghdad have continued unabated. The horrific sight of scores corpses dumped daily on streets, which came to a halt for only a few days, is seen as a heavy blow to the plan.
Nonetheless Iraqi army generals are upbeat, saying the plan was bearing fruit. They say they have killed tens of ‘terrorists’ captured hundreds of them and seized huge quantities of weapons. But with the troops so concentrated in Baghdad, rebels and insurgents have intensified their operations in other strongholds and are reported to have even spread their influence to areas so far outside their direct hegemony. There have been bombings in southern cities and highways south of Baghdad are said to be extremely dangerous to take particularly at night.
The insurgents have apparently shifted their focus on towns and villages south and north of Baghdad where pitched battles are reported amid a substantial rise in U.S. casualties and losses, they said. Car and suicide bombings in Baghdad have continued unabated. The horrific sight of scores corpses dumped daily on streets, which came to a halt for only a few days, is seen as a heavy blow to the plan.
Nonetheless Iraqi army generals are upbeat, saying the plan was bearing fruit. They say they have killed tens of ‘terrorists’ captured hundreds of them and seized huge quantities of weapons. But with the troops so concentrated in Baghdad, rebels and insurgents have intensified their operations in other strongholds and are reported to have even spread their influence to areas so far outside their direct hegemony. There have been bombings in southern cities and highways south of Baghdad are said to be extremely dangerous to take particularly at night.
Labels: Baghdad, operation Imposing Law
