U.S.-Iraqi forces expand al-Qaida mission

BAQUBA, Iraq, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. soldiers with the Multi-National Division-North launched Operation Iron Harvest as a collaboration with Iraqi forces targeting al-Qaida operations.

The operation expands on Operation Iron Reaper and is part of the broader Operation Phantom Phoenix announced Tuesday by Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

"We are pressuring al-Qaida wherever they go," the commanding general of Coalition Forces in northern Iraq, Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, said in a release by Multi-National Forces-Iraq. "Working together, Iraqi and Coalition Forces will rid the north of extremist violence and will pave the way for a secure and safe northern Iraq."

Brig. Gen. James Boozer, the deputy commanding general for operations with Multi-National Division-North, said the joint Iraq Security Force and Coalition Force effort benefits the mission of boosting the ability of the Iraqis to take over security operations in the country.

"The strength of the ISF and CF partnership ultimately provides a benefit for the Iraqi people to move forward," he said.