Iraqi Troops to Lock Down Baghdad, Defense Minister Says
Conflicting Reports on Zarqawi, Possible Successor Posted on Islamist Web Sites
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Thursday, May 26, 2005; 7:25 AM
BAGHDAD -- Iraq's defense and interior ministers announced a massive security operation on Thursday that will see more than 40,000 Iraqi troops deployed in the capital to hunt down insurgents and their weapons.
During a press conference to announce the new security measures, Iraq's Interior Minister Bayan Jabr also said his office believes Abu Musab Zarqawi was wounded, but doesn't know if he is dead.
The statement by the Interior Ministry came hours after an Internet statement claimed Iraq's most feared terror group had appointed a fill-in for purportedly wounded leader Abu Musab Zarqawi.
The Internet statement, the authenticity of which could not be verified, was quickly denied in another Web site claim disputing Abu Hafs Gerni had taken over from Zarqawi, the Jordanian-born head of the al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist group. The conflicting statements follow days of rumors Zarqawi was wounded and possibly killed or moved outside Iraq for treatment.
Jabr said his office believes Zarqawi was wounded, but said he did not know how seriously or if he was dead. It was not clear on what evidence Jabr was basing his statement.
Defense Minister Sadoun Dulaimi said the 40,000 force would include troops from the interior and defense ministries. It would be by far the largest anti-insurgent operation carried out in Baghdad by Iraqi security forces.
"We will divide Baghdad into seven main areas, and the number of the forces who will take part in the operation from the interior and the defense ministry will be more than 40,000 security men," he told a news conference.
Dulaimi said it would be the first phase of a security crackdown that could eventually cover the whole country.
"We will also impose a concrete blockade around Baghdad, like a bracelet around an arm, God willing, and God be with us in our crackdown on the terrorists' infrastructure. No one will be able to penetrate this blockade," Dulaimi said.
"You will witness unprecedentedly strict security measures."
"These operations will aim at turning the government's role from defensive to offensive," Jabr said.
Meanwhile on Thursday, at least 10 Iraqis died in violence nationwide, including a child.
