Thursday, February 15, 2007
'Operation Law and Order' ramps up in Baghdad
Security
(Middle East Online) Iraqi and US forces cranked up their joint security plan for Baghdad on Thursday, with low-level runs by fighter jets screaming a message that Operation Law and Order was getting into gear. "Baghdad soldiers and Iraqi security forces increased their operational tempo in several areas of the Iraqi capital today," the US military said.
"Intelligence-focused searches accompanied by clearing operations were conducted by coalition and Iraqi security forces in multiple locations across Baghdad," said US army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Scott Bleichwehl. Since Wednesday, passes by combat aircraft have intensified, with fighter jets racing at low altitude along paths that criss-cross the Iraqi capital.
Three pairs of US Apache attack helicopters circled above the districts of Rusafa and Sadr City in eastern Baghdad around midday (0900 GMT) and numerous detonations were heard in the southeast of the capital.
An Iraqi defence source said operations were underway in northern, eastern and southern districts, including the predominantly Sunni area of Dura and the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City.
Iraqi and US troops had not met resistence, the source added, while streets in Saduun, central Baghdad, were deserted. A resident near Tahariyat Square in the south of the capital said: "Iraqi troops entered businesses, warehouses, factories and homes, but US troops did not take part in the searches." Two car bombs struck successively in Dura, however, killing three people and wounding 15, a defence source said.
By May, eight Iraqi and US combat brigades are to join the fight against insurgents and rogue militia units that roam Baghdad pursuing a bitter sectarian war between Sunni and Shiite factions. A total of 85,000 troops are forecast for deployment in the Iraqi capital, and while US forces began their movements more than a week ago, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Wednesday that the security plan had now begun.
Targeted raids, cordon and searches and clearing operations were spearheads in a major assault "against extremist elements to deny them safe-haven," and 14 suspects were detained early Thursday, Bleichwehl said. "Increased security patrols also discovered four weapons caches," he said.
"Intelligence-focused searches accompanied by clearing operations were conducted by coalition and Iraqi security forces in multiple locations across Baghdad," said US army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Scott Bleichwehl. Since Wednesday, passes by combat aircraft have intensified, with fighter jets racing at low altitude along paths that criss-cross the Iraqi capital.
Three pairs of US Apache attack helicopters circled above the districts of Rusafa and Sadr City in eastern Baghdad around midday (0900 GMT) and numerous detonations were heard in the southeast of the capital.
An Iraqi defence source said operations were underway in northern, eastern and southern districts, including the predominantly Sunni area of Dura and the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City.
Iraqi and US troops had not met resistence, the source added, while streets in Saduun, central Baghdad, were deserted. A resident near Tahariyat Square in the south of the capital said: "Iraqi troops entered businesses, warehouses, factories and homes, but US troops did not take part in the searches." Two car bombs struck successively in Dura, however, killing three people and wounding 15, a defence source said.
By May, eight Iraqi and US combat brigades are to join the fight against insurgents and rogue militia units that roam Baghdad pursuing a bitter sectarian war between Sunni and Shiite factions. A total of 85,000 troops are forecast for deployment in the Iraqi capital, and while US forces began their movements more than a week ago, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Wednesday that the security plan had now begun.
Targeted raids, cordon and searches and clearing operations were spearheads in a major assault "against extremist elements to deny them safe-haven," and 14 suspects were detained early Thursday, Bleichwehl said. "Increased security patrols also discovered four weapons caches," he said.
Labels: Baghdad, Operation Law and Order, security
