Iraqi Army Stepping Up

Over the last few months we've seen numerous stories of the Iraqi Army stepping up and gaining a level of competence and success that is too often ignored here in the United States.

During General Petraeus's presentation to Congress the situation in Basra was brought up repeatedly to highlight the inadequacy of the Iraqi Army and other Security Forces. The Truth of the Matter, the Basra Operation demonstrated just how far the Iraqi Army has come. Bill Roggio's Long War Journal provided some of the best coverage of Operation Knights Assault which was personally led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Bill Roggio notes that, "Operation Knights' Assault was launched against the Mahdi Army in Basrah on March 25. After six days of heavy fighting, the Mahdi Army pushed for a cease-fire. The Iraqi security forces also dealt the Mahdi Army a heavy blow in the southern provinces of Najaf, Karbala, Qassadiyah, Maysan, and Wasit."

Since the successful operation in Basra, the Iraqi Army has followed it up with clearing operations in other provinces and cities. The new focus is Maysan Province.

"They came at dawn, thousands of Iraqi troops and US special forces on a mission to reclaim a lawless city from the militias who ran it.

By the end of the day, al-Amarah was under Iraqi Government control - without a shot being fired."

The above from the Times of London highlights the growing competence and ability of the Iraqi Army.