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progress made by the coalition and by units of the Iraqi military forces

http://www.DefenceNews.info

(Excerpt)
Indigenous forces learning military, reconstruction, humanitarian skills

Multi-National Force–Iraq, representing U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, issued a fact sheet July 4 that details progress made by the coalition and by units of the Iraqi military forces in recent weeks.

Following is the text of the fact sheet:

BAGHDAD, Iraq: Daily accomplishments, both large and small -– in governance, security and reconstruction –- marked progress toward Iraqi self-reliance as the country marked a year of sovereignty June 28. What follows is a partial list of these successes.

• On June 1, in the first move of its kind, Coalition forces officially transferred full responsibility for security at a base in Dibbis to the Iraqi Army. Two hundred dignitaries and civilians attended the flag-raising and ribbon-cutting ceremony, where the Iraqi Army took full control of base and security operations in the area. This historic move marked another significant step in the Iraqi government's plan to assume full responsibility for security and stability operations across the nation.

• That same day, Iraqi Army soldiers, working with Coalition aviation assets, conducted their first-ever air assault. Approximately 35 Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division were inserted into a landing zone near several small towns and villages outside of Baghdad to conduct raids and door-to-door searches for bomb- and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device-making materials and specific persons of interest. The ability to perform these types of operations speaks to the growing maturity of the Iraqi Army.

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