Insurgency down south and east of Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A top U.S. military commander in Iraq says terrorists' capabilities have been diminished as a result of recent security improvements east and south of Baghdad.

Army Col. Wayne Grigsby, the commander of the 3rd infantry division's 3rd brigade combat team, says areas where Sunni, Shiite and Iranian extremists operated, east and south of the Iraqi capital along the Diyala and Tigris rivers, have been disrupted by a series of anti-insurgent offensives, the American Forces Press Service reported.

Grigsby's unit was deployed to Iraq as part of the Bush administration's surge strategy.

"It is just evident that the surge was the right thing to do," Grigsby said in a statement. "Overall attacks in Baghdad have decreased significantly since the surge took hold."

Grigsby said his unit's most recent operation has resulted in the "killing of 128 insurgents and the capture of almost 500 suspected extremists, 25 of whom are considered to possess high informational value," the release said.

Officials also say the operation disabled more than 100 roadside bombs among other security gains.

"Our focus for the next five or six months is to get in and clear and control Salman Pak (Iraq)," Grigsby said.