As Shiite pilgrims slowly filtered out of religious shrines in Karbala Dec. 17, the quiet passing of the Muslim religious holiday of Ashoura made a loud statement about the capabilities of Iraqi security forces in the area.

As many as 4 million pilgrims took part in the 2010 Ashoura, including 200,000 foreigners from 24 separate countries, according to Iraqi estimates. The security of Ashoura participants and the areas surrounding holy shrines in Karbala was the sole responsibility of Iraqi security forces, who assumed the security lead for the country as part of Operation New Dawn Sept. 1.

The Muslim holiday of Ashoura, translated “the tenth day,” commemorates the death of Imam Al-Hussein, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala in the seventh century. Ashoura is particularly significant to Shia Muslims, who make pilgrimages in order to congregate at holy shrines in Muslim holy cities like Karbala and Najaf. The influx of vast numbers of pilgrims into Iraq presents unique security challenges to the Iraqi security forces, specifically for the crowds of people who gather around the Imam Al-Hussein and Imam Al-Abbas shrines at Karbala.

In previous years the holiday has occasionally been marred by insurgent attempts to disrupt Ashoura gatherings and destabilize the country. In March 2004, two bombs in Baghdad and Karbala killed more than 170 people. Clashes between sectarian groups in January 2008 during Ashoura resulted in the deaths of 263 people in Karbala. No such violence could be seen on the streets of Karbala this year.

U.S. forces assumed a supporting role in the security for Ashoura, advising key ISF leaders and providing humanitarian assistance for participants during the commemorations.

“The 8th Iraqi Army executed a well-crafted plan to distribute food to pilgrims during Ashoura,” said U.S. Army Maj. Tad Gilbert, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment civil affairs officer. “Third ACR supported the ISF with additional food supplies to augment their distribution plan.”

While Ashoura was visibly marked by throngs of people honoring Muslim religious traditions in peace, the Iraqi military and police were busy behind the scenes responding to insurgent threats.

“Ashoura was a very successful operation,” said Lt. Gen. Othman Al Ghanimi, commander of the 8th Iraqi Army and charged as the lead in Karbala during the security operations surrounding the holiday. Eighty suspected insurgents were captured and numerous explosives were dismantled by members of Iraqi security forces in and around Karbala, said Othman.

The strength of Iraqi security forces has become paramount as Jan. 1 marks the last year of U.S. forces involvement under the existing security agreement in Iraq.

“The performance of Iraqi security forces, particularly during Ashoura, has been nothing less than impressive,” said Col. Reginald E. Allen, commander of 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which has the responsibility of advising and assisting Iraqi military and police in Karbala and four other provinces across southern Iraq. “The ISF ability to secure such a large event with no attacks for the first time in seven years with little assistance from U.S. forces is clear evidence that the ISF is fully capable of securing the Iraqi people.”

As a significant Shiite Muslim religious holiday ended Dec. 18, it was not the tested crisis response of Iraqi security forces that marked its successful passing, but the lack of any crisis at all.

DVIDS
Story by Jason Billington

A number of bombings occurred today in Iraq, in apparent response to the killing of top al Qaeda leaders earlier this week by Iraqi security forces. The NY Times is reporting the latest death toll nationwide as 58. Their report details at least nine bombs.

I had the opportunity to speak with United States Forces-Iraq Spokesman, Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza in a Bloggers’ Roundtable today. He was able to brief us on a number of security issues and the status of U.S. forces at this time.

General Lanza told us that here are currently about 96,000 American troops in Iraq. Where there were formerly three major commands, there is now one, United States Forces – Iraq.

The troops are engaged in missions supporting Iraqi border enforcement, supporting the various Provincial Reconstruction Teams, counter-terror operations and in patrolling the “belts” around Baghdad. [The "belts" are areas outside the city proper that are usually ethnically similar in population, rural with hamlets and small towns and have not seen the level of attention from the Iraqi national government or U.S. forces that the cities have seen. In the past, the "belts" provided sanctuaries for insurgents and al Qaeda in Iraq.]

Lanza described the number of al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) members as about 1,500 to 2,000. Nearly all of them are Iraqis and the foreign fighters and foreign financing have generally left the country. AQI, as he told us, is fractured into three factions. The ideologues, the nationalists and the opportunists are each operating their own version of AQI. With foreign money nearly cut off, funds are now being raised through kidnapping and extortion.

The Quds force, Iranian paramilitary troops, remain a big concern. Lanza described U.S. and Iraqi efforts in the eastern provinces bordering Iran as having reduced smuggling and illegal border crossing. He also told us that the Syrian border has become more tightly controlled as well.

AQI remains able to conduct terror ops as small, loosely connected cells. The General said that an AQI response to the killing of their leaders was expected. Iraqi security forces are obtaining intelligence from many more individuals which has lead to the recent successes. Lanza anticipates that these bombings will generate more intelligence and more success for the Iraqis.

Iraqi Security Forces, supported by U.S. Forces, killed the two most-senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) early Sunday morning during a series of joint security operations 10 km southwest of Tikrit.

Abu Hamzah al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al Masri, is the military leader of AQI, the terrorist organization responsible for facilitating attacks against Iraq and Coalition forces as well as Iraqi civilians. Abu Ayyub al Masri replaced Abu Musab al Zarqawi when Zarqawi was killed in June of 2006 and is directly responsible for high profile bombings and attacks against the people of Iraq.

Also killed during the engagement was Hamid Dawud Muhammad Khalil al Zawi, otherwise known as Abu Umar al-Baghdadi, who served AQI as the leader of the proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and held the title “Prince of the Faithful.”

The death of these two terrorists is a potentially devastating blow to AQI.

A series of Iraqi-led joint operations conducted over the last week resulted in the Iraqi Forces, with U.S. support, executing a nighttime raid on the AQI leaders’ safe house. The joint security team identified both AQI members, and the terrorists were killed after engaging the security team. Additionally, Masri’s assistant, along with the son of al-Baghdadi, who were also involved in terrorist activities, were killed.

After conducting preliminary questioning and initial examination of the evidence during the operation, Government of Iraq elements arrested 16 additional suspected criminal associates of the warranted individuals.

“The death of these terrorists is potentially the most significant blow to al-Qaeda in Iraq since the beginning of the insurgency,” said United States Forces-Iraq commander, Gen. Ray Odierno. “The Government of Iraq intelligence services and security forces supported by U.S. intelligence and special operations forces have over the last several months continued to degrade AQI. There is still work to do but this is a significant step forward in ridding Iraq of terrorists. As the GoI continues to protect the people of Iraq, the U.S. stands ready to assist them.”

During the operation, a USF-I Soldier was killed during the assault when a U.S. helicopter crashed.

USF-I

Iraqi Security Forces, government officials and Coalition forces banded together for Dujaylah Pride Day to clean up the town, April 18.

“It was very good for the city and the people because they see the Army and the Police and the Americans as they worked together to clean the area and that’s a really excellent job to inform the people of the cooperation,” said Salah Nasser Al Attabr, deputy mayor of Dujaylah.

Iraqi Army Humvees led the way with two garbage trucks following as the group picked up trash along a one mile loop in the inner city.

“The Iraqi Army, [Iraqi Police] and the Coalition forces helped to clean this area and the people saw that we just don’t protect them, but we also help the community,” said Maj. Jabber Jom’ah Owaid, 3rd Battalion, 32nd Iraqi Army Brigade.

Kids in the town gathered around the Soldiers and also joined the clean-up, working hand-in-hand with Coalition and Iraqi forces.

“It’s supposed to be for everybody, every member of society, even the officials, kids, students and college students,” said Salah. “They have to share in this kind of job of cleaning their city. That is their duty.”

The hope for this event is that the citizens of Dujaylah will see the example of partnership and care of community, according to Salah.

“It’s an excellent example,” said Salah. “Plus, a lot of people see the Americans doing this job, so they know the Americans came from all over and came here to help people, even to clean their streets and try to help them to improve their city.”

“I think that this shows the people that it’s important to clean up their streets and that a lot of people here feel that they have to start to do that themselves,” said Jabber. “People promised me that they will work hard to clean their city in the future.”

MNF-I
By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson, Multi-National Division – South

Today’s Bloggers’ Roundtable was with Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Kulmayer, Chief of Reconciliation and Engagement, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. He discussed the on-going transfer of the Sons of Iraq [SoI] to the Iraqi government.

The Sons of Iraq is a program developed by Coalition forces based upon the success seen in al Anbar Province with the Anbar Awakening. The Awakening was a largely volunteer effort that predated the SoI progam by nearly a year.

The SoI were locals who were recruited for infrastructure security duties within their community. They use their personal weapons and guard buildings, operate security checkpoints and patrol highways.

At its height, the SoI program employed 94,000 men in 9 provinces. Some 800 contracts were in place allowing these SoI to be paid by the Coalition. Overall hiring ended in June 2008.

Kulmayer told us that on October 1, 2008, the SoI in Baghdad were transferred to Iraqi authority. This was about 51,000 men hired under 385 contracts. Diyala Province transferred next, moving another 9,000 men onto the Iraqi payroll.

The Colonel stated that all the Sons of Iraq would be on the Iraqi payroll after March 1 of 2009, barring any complications. The Ministry of Defense has control over these units but the payroll come from the National Reconciliation budget. As of today’s interview, about 75% of the total number of SoI are being paid by the Iraqis.

The SoI are about 85% Sunni and the remainder are Shia. Kulmayer has seen little ethnic tension, either in the existing program or after the transfers to Iraqi authority.

The goal is to integrate about 20% of the SoI into the Iraqi Security Forces, and to find the remainder employment with the government or in the private sector. Training programs are being developed or underway. Until an alternate job is found, the SoI will continue their duties and be paid by the Iraqi government.

About 3,000 former SoI have been hired by the Iraqi Police, and another 1,600 have been found employment elsewhere. The process is slow but new programs will be coming on line as time passes.

The SoI have been in battle and have suffered because of it. In 2008, LTC Kulmayer reports about 500 were killed and about 750 wounded. Pay varies for the SoI, with those in Baghdad being paid $300 a month and those in al Anbar $130 monthly.

There are about 800 Iraqi women in the Daughters of Iraq program, 400 in Baghdad and the remainder throughout the country. The women are not part of the SoI integration plan. Those in Baghdad are under Iraqi authority and paid by them. The 400 women outside Baghdad remain controlled by and paid by the Coalition.

The Colonel made it quite clear that the Iraqi government sees the SoI as important and as a critical part of the nationwide reconciliation process. The Diyala Provincial Governor recently stated that the SoI ‘saved Diyala”.

Unemployment remains high in Iraq and complicates the placement of SoI. Security forces are at or near budgeted manpower levels which slows the integration of the 20% of SoI into the forces, as do educational requirements for many of the positions.

LTC Kulmayer was upbeat with his report. He continually remarked on the “amazing progress” made by the Iraqi government and sounded very encouraged by the anticipated future progress in integrating the SoI with the government.

For additional information:
Daughters of Iraq / Lioness program

SoI and Iraqi Police