.US says Iranian-sponsored attacks in Iraq falling
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq (AP) - The number of rocket and mortar attacks in Iraq that can be linked to Iranian-sponsored fighters has fallen in recent weeks, the second-ranking American commander in Iraq said Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin attributed the decline mainly to inroads made by Iraqi security forces in choking off radical elements of Shiite militias in the southern cities of Basra and Amarah. Amarah purportedly is a hub for smuggling weapons to Iraqi Shiite extremists from Iran.
In an interview with three American reporters, Austin said he does not know whether the dropoff in attacks is an intentional gesture by Iran, which has strengthened its influence in Iraq since the war began five years ago.
"We can only judge by what we're seeing here on the ground," Austin said at his headquarters at the main U.S. military compound just west of Baghdad. "We have seen a decrease in the number of attacks."
Asked about reports Wednesday that Iran test-fired nine long- and medium-range missiles, Austin said he is not concerned that Iran might use such weapons to attack American or Iraqi forces inside Iraq. He said his focus remains on keeping up pressure on Iraqi insurgent groups and enabling Iraqi government forces to grow and improve.
Austin, who has day-to-day responsibility for all U.S. and coalition military operations in Iraq, spoke optimistically about security trends across the country. But he declined to say whether he thought it would be possible to make further reductions in U.S. troop levels this fall. There are now about 145,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.
He said the al-Qaida in Iraq group, identified by U.S. commanders as the chief threat to Iraqi stability, has been damaged badly in its former urban strongholds, but cannot be counted out completely.
"Al-Qaida remains a dangerous element," he said. "It still has some capability" and has shown many times before that it can replace leaders who are captured or killed, and to garner the resources it needs, he added.
MyWay
Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin attributed the decline mainly to inroads made by Iraqi security forces in choking off radical elements of Shiite militias in the southern cities of Basra and Amarah. Amarah purportedly is a hub for smuggling weapons to Iraqi Shiite extremists from Iran.
In an interview with three American reporters, Austin said he does not know whether the dropoff in attacks is an intentional gesture by Iran, which has strengthened its influence in Iraq since the war began five years ago.
"We can only judge by what we're seeing here on the ground," Austin said at his headquarters at the main U.S. military compound just west of Baghdad. "We have seen a decrease in the number of attacks."
Asked about reports Wednesday that Iran test-fired nine long- and medium-range missiles, Austin said he is not concerned that Iran might use such weapons to attack American or Iraqi forces inside Iraq. He said his focus remains on keeping up pressure on Iraqi insurgent groups and enabling Iraqi government forces to grow and improve.
Austin, who has day-to-day responsibility for all U.S. and coalition military operations in Iraq, spoke optimistically about security trends across the country. But he declined to say whether he thought it would be possible to make further reductions in U.S. troop levels this fall. There are now about 145,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.
He said the al-Qaida in Iraq group, identified by U.S. commanders as the chief threat to Iraqi stability, has been damaged badly in its former urban strongholds, but cannot be counted out completely.
"Al-Qaida remains a dangerous element," he said. "It still has some capability" and has shown many times before that it can replace leaders who are captured or killed, and to garner the resources it needs, he added.
MyWay
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