Iraq Report: SCIRI Splits With Iran, Diyala on the Horizon

The past week in Iraq has been a mixed bag of political success coupled with several successful high profile attacks by al Qaeda. The situation is heating up in Diyala, and al Qaeda conducted a highly successful assault on a U.S. Army team operating south of Baghdad.

The search is on for the three missing soldiers who are believed to have been captured after http://billroggio.com/archives/2007/05/five_soldiers_killed.php target=_blank>a complex assault on a U.S. Army patrol on the outskirts of Mahmudiyah Saturday morning. Over 4,000 troops are involved, along with aerial and satellite surveillance and elements of the Anbar Salvation Council. Al Qaeda in Iraq's political front, the Islamic State of Iraq, claims it has captured the three soldiers, but the group has not offered any evidence. Al Qaeda in Iraq will make every effort to exploit the captive soldiers both to influence its American audience and to shore up its base of support in jihadi circles and beyond.

In Baghdad, there has been very little change to the disposition of forces. The focus in the eastern zones of the city has been clearing Sadr City. Over 40 percent of the city was reported to have been cleared since the last update over a week ago. In the west, Iraqi and U.S. forces have moved forces into the Bayaa and Doura districts and initiated clearing operations after sweeping through the Mansour district last week.

Diyala province remains the hottest and most dangerous region in Iraq. The tribes of Diyala, tired of al Qaeda's attempts at imposing a Taliban like regime through its Islamic State of Iraq, are beginning to organize along the lines of the tribes in Anbar province. Several tribes have banded together to form the Diyala Awakening and have vowed to battle al Qaeda. "Tribesman Sheikh Wameed al-Jabouri told al-Hayat that a number of tribes had signed a cooperation agreement to undertake this mission and to bring the city [of Baqubah] back to how 'it used to be,'" reports Deutsche Presse-Agentur. "The agreement could be considered 'a national charter' that proves their rejection of the actions of the terrorist groups, al-Jabouri said."

This development comes as U.S. forces are finishing their surge and preparing to retake the province from al Qaeda. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, the Commander of Multnational Division North and the 25th Infantry Division, briefed on Diyala late last week and stated "I do not have enough soldiers right now in Diyala province to get that security situation moving . . . We have plans to put additional forces in that area."

"In Diyala province, we are working in a combined effort with Iraqi security forces to achieve tactical parity," said Maj. Gen. Mixon. "The tactical situation there is very difficult, and the fight is ongoing. Across MND North, we'll continue to work to improve Iraqi security forces, and they will become more capable, and we will work with the police units until they are fully established and capable of providing for their own security."