"The Iraqi army is operating successfully throughout the region," said Lt. Col. James Oliver, the outgoing base commander, as he handed over the ceremonial keys to the base. "They are fully independent and capable of responding to all security needs. We are now here in a strictly advisory mode."
The handover of Najaf scarcely could have been imagined last summer, when thousands of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi troops fought a pitched, three-week battle in the city against the militia forces of radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr after the rebels seized control of several shrines. Hundreds died, and much of the old city was destroyed.
Calm was restored after followers of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani marched on the city and brokered a resolution. Since then, violence has flared sporadically in Najaf -- just two weeks ago six people were killed when clashes erupted between al-Sadr's forces and another Shiite faction -- but commanders decided that the situation has stabilized enough to warrant yesterday morning's transfer of authority.
Via PoliPundit.
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