The military has taken control of nearly half of Baghdad’s 474 neighborhoods, the top U.S. field commander there said Friday, which means that the city of 7 million could be under complete coalition jurisdiction by October.
Baghdad is the prime objective of the U.S. offensive that began in mid-February. To date, American and Iraqi forces control 48 percent of the city’s so-called “mahalas,” are in the process of clearing 36 percent and view 16 percent as disruptive, Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil said.
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Despite the progress, Fil said, “We are still experiencing some very tough days here.” Fil, speaking from Baghdad to Pentagon reporters, said U.S. dead
and wounded have increased as soldiers aggressively attack al Qaeda strongholds and are victims of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
In the al Qaeda-infested East Rashid neighborhood, five soldiers were killed Thursday after being ambushed by IEDs, synchronized small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades.
“It was a very violent attack and we thought it did show a level of sophistication that we have not often seen so far in this campaign,” Fil said. The two-star general said al Qaeda cells had been able to establish “free rein” in areas such as East Rashid but now feel hemmed in by the block-by-block clearing. “They are standing and fighting,” he said. “And we are fully prepared for that.”
Al Qaeda constantly switches tactics. One new one is to place IEDs in sewer lines and drainage ditches, Fil said, forcing soldiers to seal manholes.
