Operation Iron Harvest Update: Tribal Leaders Back Iraqi Government

Coalition forces backed by the Iraqi Army and armed with tips from Concerned Local Citizen Groups scored a number of key victories against al-Qaeda in Iraq as Operation: Iron Harvest continued - a supplemental operation underneath Operation: Phantom Phoenix, a recent assault against al-Qaeda forces across Iraq. With Operation: Marne Thunder pacifying the southern Arab Jabour, the success of the operation has carried onto the northern Salah ad Din province, where Coalition forces are aiming at trying to stem the flow of terrorist elements entering the country and disrupt militants' ability to maneuver.

The operation's primary point of operation is Samarra, where the Multinational Force Iraq Central Command explains that Iraqi Security and American forces have successfully secured and pacified the city. Reports from the MNFI states that the operation has helped "control the flow of traffic in and out of Samarra" and "keep al-Qaeda and other extremists from freely entering the city." They have also stated that the operation is "improving the city's access to commerce".

In other parts of the country, including the small village of Aitha in Ninevah, Iraqi security forces assisted in the capture in what's described as a large cache of rockets - over 20 rockets were detained and presumably later destroyed. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Ninevah, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment also managed to capture what's described as an "IED cell leader" as well as one of his "accomplices".

Accentuating the recent successes scored against al-Qaeda in Iraq, tribal leaders and sheiks across Iraq have followed the purging of extremist forces with signing of documents indicating their backing of the Iraqi government, another step in Iraqi reconciliation between the national government and Sunni forces across the country. In Hawija, Kirkuk, 1,400 potential Concerned Local Citizen recruits have thrown in their support behind the Isnad, an Arabic word for government support movement, or in this particular case, the faction of CLCs pledging their assistance to the government.

Several Sheiks have also put their names to the Isnad.