U.S. offensive against al-Qaida in Iraq meeting little resistance so far, commander says

BAGHDAD — The top U.S. commander in northern Iraq said Wednesday a nationwide operation launched against insurgents was meeting less resistance than expected, but that troops would pursue the militants until they were dead or pushed out of the country.

Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling told reporters in Baghdad that in his area of control alone, 24,000 American troops, 50,000 members of the Iraq army and 80,000 Iraqi police were taking part in the offensive against al-Qaida in Iraq.

Diyala province northeast of Baghdad has not seen the same drop in violence that other parts of the nation have witnessed in the last six months. Commanders say that is because insurgents who were pushed out of Anbar province to the west and out of Baghdad fled north into Hertling's territory, specifically into Diyala.

"We're attempting to increase the tempo of operations in that specific province," Hertling said. "There are more U.S. and Iraqi security forces in Diyala now than there ever has been."

Three U.S. soldiers were killed Tuesday in an attack north of Baghdad, the military said. The attack took place in Salahuddin province, an area covered by the current operation, but the soldiers' role was unclear from the military statement. Two other soldiers were wounded.

On Tuesday, the No. 2 U.S. commander, Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, announced the new operation — named Phantom Phoenix — had begun. He said its goal was to crush al-Qaida in Iraq extremists and at the same time improve the social situation for Iraqis.

Asked about the timing of the operation, Hertling said the answer was simple.

"Why now? Because we can. Baghdad is more secure. Anbar is more secure," he said. "Why now? Because ... the enemy has moved into these (northern) provinces."

Hertling said there would be three basic phases to Operation Phantom Phoenix.

First, U.S. and Iraqi forces would try to clear areas of insurgents. Then, Iraqi police would move in to establish some semblance of law and order. Finally, Hertling said, the so-called "Awakening Groups" or "Concerned Local Citizens" — mostly Sunni fighters who have joined the Americans in the battle against al-Qaida — would be relied upon to maintain stability after troops move out of areas.

Hertling said reports that insurgents in Diyala had fled north just before Phantom Phoenix began were probably accurate, a reason troops have met relatively little resistance so far. He also said the insurgent probably learned of the military's plans in advance.