Surge in Iraqi Press Conferences against Al Quaeda

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, commander of Multinational Division-North, left, and spokesman Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, right, appeared at a press conference at the very heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008.

Hertling told reporters in Baghdad that in his area of control alone (Diyala, Salaheddin, Nineveh and Tamim provinces see map here pdf), 24,000 American troops, 50,000 members of the Iraq army and 80,000 Iraqi police were taking part in the offensive against al-Qaida in Iraq.

The Miqdadiyah and Khanaqin districts in the eastern portion of Diyala province have emerged as al Qaeda in Iraq's main staging point, according to attack data, Iraqi and Coalition operations, as well as a map released by Multinational Forces Iraq in November. The Miqdadiyah district includes Baqubah, the provincial capital.

Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, had announced at a Press conference on Tuesday that the new operation — named Phantom Phoenix — had begun....the first American operation that publicly declared an intention to at once kill and capture al-Qaida fighters.

Asked about the timing of the operation yesterday , Hertling said the answer was simple.

"Why now? Because we can. Baghdad is more secure. Anbar is more secure," he said. "Why now? Because ... the enemy has moved into these (northern) provinces."

Hertling said reports that insurgents in Diyala had fled north just before Phantom Phoenix began were probably accurate, a reason troops have met relatively little resistance so far. He also said the insurgent probably learned of the military's plans in advance.

"Operational security in Iraq is a problem," he said, noting that the Iraqi army uses unsecured cell phones and radios. "I'm sure there is active leaking of communication. That is why we have to keep a tight line on operational security."

"Al Quaeda " Body Count

Hertling said "20 to 30" Al-Qaeda in Iraq fighters had been killed since the launch in Diyala province of Operation Iron Harvest, which forms part of Phantom Phoenix.

"It's about right (20-30 killed), but I don' t want to put a body count on it," the general said... Hell no .. we don't do dead bodies.

One of those killed was Haydar al-Afri,(AKA Imad Abd al-Karim) a senior Al-Qaeda leader for the northwestern Mosul region, "responsible for organising the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq and for operations in Mosul."

He was killed during operations (involving bringing in air strikes) in Mosul, along with 8 other suspected militants, on Christmas Day.

If you arrived here via Lenin's Tomb more on Iraq bombing here and Afghanistan here