U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark I. Fox (left), a Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman, and Iraqi Army Brig. Gen. Qassim Atta Al-Moussawi, Fardh Al-Qanoon spokesman, held a press conference on the progress of Iraqi Security Forces Sunday. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Scott Kim, Combined Press Information Center.

Fox detailed how Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces are working together in various locations throughout Iraq.  Coalition forces have helped train and equip more than 349,000 ISF soldiers and added 8,700 Soldiers since June 24.  Fox says the ISF is getting stronger every day.

“The steady growth of the ISF, combined with the additional surge in Coalition forces is making a difference on the ground,” Fox said.  “We’ve seen a significant drop in the number of Iraqi citizens murdered in Baghdad; the overall levels of sectarian violence have decreased; and a record number of weapons caches have been seized – largely because of tips and information received from Iraqi citizens – citizens who want their neighborhoods back and want to see an end to the terror and hatred fueled by al-Qaeda and other extremist groups.”

Coalition and ISF troops are making progress in Iraqi neighborhoods by working with community groups, Fox said.  On Thursday, a neighborhood watch group in Taji turned over a cache of mortar rounds, multiple make-shift mortar tubes, fuses and improvised explosive device timers to Coalition forces and Iraqi Police.  The volunteers are working to rid the area of insurgent activity such as al-Qaeda.

“This is the fourth time since June 24th, which is when the combat outpost near Taji was established, that villagers have turned in or identified weapons caches,” Fox said.  “It’s an illustrative example of the value of the neighborhood watch program and the trust the Iraqi people have in their security forces.”

In another sign of success, Soldiers from Multi-National Division-Baghdad discovered and destroyed a car bomb factory northwest of the city filled with deadly materials that included a dump truck and an 18 wheeler being prepared as truck bombs, as well as several thousand pounds of ammonium nitrate and nitric acid.

The insurgents have not given up in the efforts to destabilize Iraq, however.   Coalition and ISF troops have experienced an increase in the number of rocket and mortar attacks, Fox said.  Nine indirect fire neighborhoods hit several Baghdad neighborhoods and four mortar and rocket attacks hit in Doura and New Baghdad July 13.

“These indiscriminate attacks are perfect examples of the nature of this brutal enemy,” Fox said.  “MNF-I deplores the loss of innocent Iraqis caused by the indirect fire attack by Iranian-sponsored secret cells with the Jaysh al-Mahdi.” 

“These attacks show the same disregard for civilian life that turned the Iraqi population against al Qaeda in Iraq,” Fox continued.

Fox did not deny that Coalition and Iraqi forces have a hard fight ahead of them.  He did, however, express hope in the progress he has seen and expects the situation in Iraq to continue to improve.  He said Coalition forces will continue to support the ISF.

“In simple terms, our job in the Coalition is to help prepare the Iraqi Army and police establish a level of security and stability they can sustain on their own,” Fox said.  “And we accomplish this by standing side-by-side with the Iraqi Security Forces to fight the enemy, continuing to help build their capacity, and assist in building Iraq’s government institutions that are needed to sustain their security and stability.”

(U.S. Army story by Sgt. Matthew McLaughlin, Combined Press Information Center)

In other developments throughout Iraq:

•            Members of the Iraqi Army, with U.S. Special Forces as advisors, detained three suspected insurgents linked to a rogue group of the Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM) militia, during a series of operations July 15 in north Baghdad. 

•           A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device factory was discovered and destroyed by Coalition Forces in a rural area west of Saab al bor, Iraq July 14.