KIRKUK, Iraq, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The Iraqi army progressed toward becoming a stand-alone force by assuming responsibility for operations at a munitions depot, U.S. military reports say.
Iraqi defense officials attended a ceremony for the transfer of responsibility of the Bayji national ammunition depot near the northern city of Kirkuk.
The U.S. military's Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq said Iraqi forces have assumed full operational oversight of the depot as well as associated control.
U.S.-led forces guided the transfer with a small contingent of advisers working at the facility since September.
"This is another demonstration of the rapidly improving ability of the Iraqi army to conduct their own logistics operations," said U.S. logistics Col. Dan Leatherman.
MNSTC-I is charged with overseeing the training, organizing and supply of Iraqi military forces throughout the country.
