Iraqi citizens praised for vigilance

BAGHDAD, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the U.S.-led forces in Iraq praised the work of Iraqi security forces and civilians with the recent lull in violence in much of the country.

Army Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, a spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq, said the success of the latest counterinsurgency mission is due in part to the efforts of Iraqi security forces and the resolve of the Iraqi people, the American Forces Press Service said.

"One of the reasons progress has been made and continues to be made in Iraq is the increasing courage of the Iraqi people," Bergner said.

Bergner said the resolve of the Iraqi people to advance the regional security allowed for Iraqi and U.S.-led forces to remove nearly half of all roadside bombs across Iraq.

"Iraqi citizens are not just reporting (bombs), but also phoning in tips, walking into local joint security stations to provide actionable intelligence and working with their security forces in ways not seen a year ago," he said.

The collective security allows the mission to move from a hold-and-secure operation to a mission focused more on reconstruction, he said.

Bergner noted that the latest counterinsurgency effort, dubbed Operation Phantom Phoenix, also is allowing Iraqi security forces to form the front line of defense.

A spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Defense echoed Bergner's sentiments, saying, "We are fighting in front of (U.S.-led forces), and we are taking the leadership in conducting operations."