Sharp Fall in U.S. Troop Casualties in Iraq

The number of U.S. Troops killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom Has dropped sharply in the Month of July. The total is likely to be the lowest since the start of the war according to figures from the Pentagon. 13 U.S. soldiers gave the ultimate sacrifice this month, as opposed to 80 at the same time last year.

Seeking to build on those gains tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and police launched a major operation against the Al Qaeda in the northeastern province of Diyala on Tuesday. Al Qaeda has been stoking the tensions in Diyala because it is the last stronghold they have near Baghdad. A witness said that forces had been deployed throughout the provincial capital of Baquba. Security forces implemented a vehicle curfew and searched homes for weapons and wanted militants.

The U.S. toll is down from 23 in May, and 15 in June according to the data on casualties.org.

As we enter fall the Iraqi forces have taken the lead in most major security operations. The U.S. Military has, this month also withdrawn the last five remaining extra combat brigades that were sent to Iraq last year.

It is nice to know that we are accomplishing what we set out to do in Iraq.

 

 

 

 

 

This is from the London Times.

After being forced from its strongholds in the west and centre of Iraq in the past two years, Al-Qaeda’s dwindling band of fighters has made a defiant “last stand” in the northern city of Mosul.

A huge operation to crush the 1,200 fighters who remained from a terrorist force once estimated at more than 12,000 began on May 10.

Operation Lion’s Roar, in which the Iraqi army combined forces with the Americans’ 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment, has already resulted in the death of Abu Khalaf, the Al-Qaeda leader, and the capture of more than 1,000 suspects.

How did the American media miss this fact.  It causes one to wonder…