US Commander expresses concern over Iranian influence in Iraq

US Commander expresses concern over Iranian influence in Iraq
Military and Security 7/6/2007 7:02:00 PM


WASHINGTON, July 6 (KUNA) -- A US military commander in Iraq expressed on Friday concern over Iranian influence in the southern belt of Baghdad three weeks after coalition forces launched a new offensive in this area."There are just indicators of Iranian influence, and it is causing us great concern," said Commander of the Multi-National Division-Center Army Major General Rick Lynch in a Pentagon press briefing via teleconference from Iraq.He pointed out that his division found Iranian made rockets and mortars during raids noting that this is "unacceptable" but confirmed no one with Iranian ties was captured yet. "What I believe is al-Qaeda has worn out its welcome. They have overplayed their hand, and their tactics have indeed backfired," said Lynch while providing update on security operations in Iraq."The enemy is not just Sunni extremist networks. Shiite extremists remain disruptive and unhelpful antagonists, and we find that they are often unfortunately foreign-supported," he added noting that "for the people of Iraq to live in peace and prosperity, these elements must be defeated as well." Lynch, who took over this post in April, talked about Operation Marne Torch, part of the larger offensive of Phantom Thunder, which started three weeks ago "to eliminate enemy sanctuary areas" in the southeast quadrant of the Baghdad province. "We move fast and we strike hard, both on the ground and in the air. We engage with the local population and solicit their cooperation. And we exploit all forms of intelligence," said Lynch describing the three primary characteristics of this newest operation.He said that his division conducted so far under Operation Marne Torch 500 patrols, 22 raids and 70 airstrikes, and they were able to take real estate from the insurgents noting that his troops "will now hold on to this terrain until competent, capable Iraqi security forces can provide the sustained security presence that will keep the extremists away from the people of Iraq and from the government." "We are having an impact on the enemy, and we are experiencing some operational success," he added while adding that it is soon to see "dramatic changes in the security situation in Baghdad" and declined to predict when the US military would be ready to pull out of Iraq."There are so many conditions over here that are variable, there are so many unknowns -- in how the enemy is going to respond, how the Iraqi security forces are going to respond, how the government of Iraq is going to do in building these Iraqi security forces," he added.But Lynch praised the Iraqi government for its effort "to build security forces that are multi-ethnic, non-secular and that can bear the weight of Iraqi security responsibility" noting that there is a "significant shortage of Iraqi forces" in his division yet they are "confident and capable." The US Commander said that Multinational Division Center has now 29 patrol bases in the proximity of Iraqi population, noting that "this openness" is playing a positive role in information exchange about security matters.Lynch said that Operation Marne Torch is now in a "post-combat" phase where the focus is on reconstruction efforts saying that the US military will fund six state-owned enterprises that will employ 2,800 local jobs between now and October.His division also chairs bi-weekly security meetings with the Iraqi security forces and the local government "to share intelligence and develop future operations." "Even though we're working post-combat operations, intensive combat operations are still necessary," he concluded.