Operation Iron Harvest Update: Tribal Leaders Back Iraqi Government

Coalition forces backed by the Iraqi Army and armed with tips from Concerned Local Citizen Groups scored a number of key victories against al-Qaeda in Iraq as Operation: Iron Harvest continued - a supplemental operation underneath Operation: Phantom Phoenix, a recent assault against al-Qaeda forces across Iraq. With Operation: Marne Thunder pacifying the southern Arab Jabour, the success of the operation has carried onto the northern Salah ad Din province, where Coalition forces are aiming at trying to stem the flow of terrorist elements entering the country and disrupt militants' ability to maneuver.

The operation's primary point of operation is Samarra, where the Multinational Force Iraq Central Command explains that Iraqi Security and American forces have successfully secured and pacified the city. Reports from the MNFI states that the operation has helped "control the flow of traffic in and out of Samarra" and "keep al-Qaeda and other extremists from freely entering the city." They have also stated that the operation is "improving the city's access to commerce".

In other parts of the country, including the small village of Aitha in Ninevah, Iraqi security forces assisted in the capture in what's described as a large cache of rockets - over 20 rockets were detained and presumably later destroyed. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Ninevah, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment also managed to capture what's described as an "IED cell leader" as well as one of his "accomplices".

Accentuating the recent successes scored against al-Qaeda in Iraq, tribal leaders and sheiks across Iraq have followed the purging of extremist forces with signing of documents indicating their backing of the Iraqi government, another step in Iraqi reconciliation between the national government and Sunni forces across the country. In Hawija, Kirkuk, 1,400 potential Concerned Local Citizen recruits have thrown in their support behind the Isnad, an Arabic word for government support movement, or in this particular case, the faction of CLCs pledging their assistance to the government.

Several Sheiks have also put their names to the Isnad.

The MNFI states that these CLCs will primarily be used to man checkpoints near Riyad, a contested area in Hawijah.

Operation: Phantom Phoenix has so far been described as an operation aimed at driving al-Qaeda in Iraq, also now known as the Islamic State of Iraq, out of the country, using more than 10,000 marines and 30,000 Iraqi Security Forces in the attacks that have so far been pummeling terrorist elements across the country. Last week, Coalition forces dropped a record number of explosives on the southern area known as Arab Jabour, hoping to capitalize on gains made in Baghdad in the wake of the "Surge".

Key targets involved IED emplacements and militant safehouses - it was reported to AC Content Producer Chadd De Las Casas that 47 of the 50 planned targets were hit, and no civilian casualties have yet been reported.

The MNFI remains confident in the progress shown so far by Operation: Phantom Phoenix and its support in Operation: Iron Harvest.

Sources:

-Multinational Force Iraq

-MNF-I Press Liaison: Major Brad Leighton