Al-Qaida top threat in Iraq -- official

BAGHDAD, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- A top U.S. military official says despite recent successes, al-Qaida remains the most dangerous militant organization fighting coalition forces in Iraq.

Navy Rear Adm. Greg Smith, a spokesman for Multi-National Forces-Iraq, says Operation Phantom Phoenix, a coalition operation, has made inroads against the terrorist threat in Iraq. Smith says more than 1,000 militants have been detained since the operation began and more than 100 alleged terrorists have been killed. Despite moderate successes, al-Qaida remains a potent threat in Iraq, the American Force Press Service reported.

"Al-Qaida senior leadership (sees) Iraq as its caliphate, its center of struggle and dominance for establishing its Taliban-like ideology in the heart of the Arab world," Smith said in a statement.

Smith says that at the beginning of 2007, al-Qaida was largely succeeding against coalition and Iraq forces' operations. In Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar province, al-Qaida even sponsored a parade down the main street as a result of their stronghold of the province.

"Al-Qaida murdered 3,870 Iraqis, injuring nearly 18,000 additional innocent civilians (in 2007)," Smith said. "The violence peaked in March and April and as the surge of operations pressed through the summer, the number of high-profile explosions slowly began to decrease. However, the numbers still remain alarmingly high."

Smith says success against al-Qaida has come from the surge of U.S. troops and that continued success against the terrorist threat in Iraq will come from the increased capabilities of Iraqi forces.

"As Operation Phantom Phoenix continues, we know that a tough fight is ahead, and we remain committed to pursuing al-Qaida in order to ensure security and stability for all of Iraq," Smith said.