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Soldiers

Violence Surges in Baghdad Despite Ongoing Security Sweep

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the Muslim month of Ramadan enters its final weeks, the situation in Baghdad is deteriorating, with attacks on US soldiers and Iraqis increasing 43 percent since midsummer, according to Maj. Gen. William Caldwell. The US-led security sweep, which involves over 15,000 American troops and more than 40,000 Iraqi police officers, has exposed more troops and police to attacks, leading to a rise in violence.

Key Takeaways:

  • Attacks on US soldiers and Iraqis in Baghdad have increased by 43 percent since midsummer, despite an ongoing American-led campaign to secure individual neighborhoods.
  • Violence was down by 11 percent in neighborhoods where the sweeps had been focused.
  • Maj. Gen. William Caldwell expects the level of violence to continue rising during the remaining weeks of Ramadan, with historical trends suggesting a 20 percent increase in attacks during this period.
  • The US military is exposing more troops and police to attacks through the security sweep, which involves as many as 15,000 American troops and more than 40,000 Iraqi police officers.
  • Suspected Shiite militiamen broke into a TV station and gunned down 11 Iraqi executives, producers, and other staffers, citing the station's test programming of nationalist songs against the US military presence.
  • Reporters Without Borders cited unidentified local sources as saying the station may have been hit because it received funding from Libya, leading to speculation about the motivations behind the attack.
  • Muqtada al-Sadr, the radical Shiite cleric, denounced the killings as sacrilegious.
  • At least 51 journalists - mostly Iraqis - have been kidnapped, according to Reporters Without Borders.
  • The latest kidnapping was the editor of weekly magazine Nabd al-Shabab, abducted on Monday.
  • The US command reported that one American soldier was killed and two others were injured in northern Iraq, bringing the number of Americans killed in October to 41.

Statistics:

  • 43 percent increase in attacks on US soldiers and Iraqis in Baghdad since midsummer.
  • 11 percent decrease in violence in neighborhoods where the sweeps had been focused.
  • 20 percent increase in attacks expected during Ramadan, according to historical trends.
  • 15,000 American troops and more than 40,000 Iraqi police officers involved in the security sweep.
  • 51 journalists - mostly Iraqis - kidnapped, according to Reporters Without Borders.
  • 41 Americans killed in October.
  • 81 journalists killed in the past three years.

Sources:

  • McClatchy Foreign Correspondent Jay Price
  • Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, top U.S. military spokesman
  • Reporters Without Borders
  • Washington Post
  • Associated Press
  • Daily Mail
  • Interior Ministry
  • News Services

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