BAGHDAD, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A top coalition commander in Iraq says the number of explosively formed penetrator encounters by coalition forces is showing a downward trend in Iraq.
Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno says despite the positive trend it is unclear whether Iran, which is suspected of sending the weapons into Iraq, has slowed shipments.
In October officials say 30 EFP explosions occurred while 23 were found before they exploded. In September the number of encounters with EFPs was 52, which officials recognize is not a significant drop. But when compared with 78 projectiles encountered in August and in 99 in July, officials say the four-month downward trend is a positive sign.
“I will say that although we still have, in my mind, way too many explosively formed projectiles, in the last three months, that has been on a downward trend, but it's still at a high level,” Odierno said in a statement.
Officials also attribute part of the downward trend to the recent discovery of a stockpile of EFPs in Diyala province, which was the largest discovery made at a single location since the war began. Soldiers found more than 100 completed projectiles ready for use and the parts for hundreds more.
“It's unclear yet to me whether they have slowed down bringing in weapons and supporting the insurgency or not,” Odierno said. “I'll still wait and see.”
