Thursday, March 01, 2007
Curfew in Mosul following surge in violence
Security
(Azzaman) Iraqi authorities have imposed a curfew and conducted a search of insurgents in the northern city of Mosul. U.S. armored vehicles are reported to be rumbling in Mosul streets along with Iraqi troops. Many streets are impassable due to the heavy military presence and residents say it is difficult to cross any of the five bridges over the Tigris River bisecting the city.
The curfew comes following an upsurge in violence in which several car bombs have been detonated. There are reports of attacks by suicide bombers. Anti-U.S. rebels have increased their attacks in their traditional strongholds in central and northern parts of the country. The attacks are apparently in response to the mounting pressure they are under in Baghdad due to a joint U.S. and Iraqi military campaign to pacify the capital.
During the U.S. attack on Falluja, the insurgents overwhelmed Iraqi troops in Mosul and had the city under their total control for several days. The government has dispatched a full army division to Mosul and substantially increased police presence in the city. U.S. troops are called in when fighting with insurgents intensifies.
The curfew comes following an upsurge in violence in which several car bombs have been detonated. There are reports of attacks by suicide bombers. Anti-U.S. rebels have increased their attacks in their traditional strongholds in central and northern parts of the country. The attacks are apparently in response to the mounting pressure they are under in Baghdad due to a joint U.S. and Iraqi military campaign to pacify the capital.
During the U.S. attack on Falluja, the insurgents overwhelmed Iraqi troops in Mosul and had the city under their total control for several days. The government has dispatched a full army division to Mosul and substantially increased police presence in the city. U.S. troops are called in when fighting with insurgents intensifies.
