U.S. says attacks down 70% since 'Hammer'

A U.S. general in Iraq claims enemy attacks against coalition forces in the Baghdad area have dropped 70 percent since the launch of a tough new campaign known as "Operation Iron Hammer" on Nov. 12.

Army Brig. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said the joint operation of the Army, the Air Force and the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and police is using information from Iraqi citizens and pattern analysis of enemy actions.

"Fundamentally, we want to communicate to the enemy the high cost of continuing to resist, as well as to assure the good citizens of Baghdad of our resolve," Dempsey said at a press conference this week.

Since Wednesday, however, there have been at least five attacks, mainly targeting Iraqis for their cooperation with coalition forces.

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But only six to eight of Baghdad's 88 neighborhoods are "less secure than we want them to be," Dempsey said.

Security methods and strategies must be adapted to each neighborhood because of ethnic, religious, tribal and economic differences, he explained.

"Each neighborhood requires a degree of determination and a degree of patience and a degree of precision in order to make sure that the outcome is what we want it to be, which is a safe and secure environment," Dempsey said.

One of the biggest challenges, the general said, is resisting "hit-and-run attackers" who often operate from trucks or set up rockets on a timer to allow escape.

Many cells that carry out such attacks have been identified and defeated, he said, mainly through intelligence from Iraqis.

Dempsey said success in bringing safety and security to all of Baghdad requires that the city's citizens believe in the coalition's sincerity.

"If I can get the trust and confidence of the people of Baghdad that I am here for the reason they say I'm here – to provide a safe and secure environment so they can establish governance and move into the future – then God bless us all," Dempsey said. "And that's what I'm looking for."