Recent operations involving Iraqi forces

Iraqi security forces continue to perform roles in operations in Iraq. It may not be in leaps and bounds, but Iraqi forces are improving. The point is not whether they can stand on their own today, the point is whether Iraqi forces are on a trajectory to handle security in their country on their own. I think the answer to that is yes.

From the latest Weekly Iraq Progress report (PDF):

In Tikrit, Task Force Liberty Coalition soldiers are moving into the observer role as Iraqi Army soldiers in their area of responsibility begin conducting missions without US support. Iraqi soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division recently completed a successful independent mission that led to the detainment of high-value insurgent targets.
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In Baqubah, soldiers with the 5th Iraqi Army Division and Coalition forces conducted raids after receiving a tip regarding the location of two terrorist cell leaders. The soldiers captured one individual identified as a cell leader responsible for numerous kidnappings and beheadings, including the recent assassination of three Iraqi Police officers. The Iraqi forces also apprehended a suspected terrorist cell leader responsible for training insurgent forces.
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The Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Jaapde Hoop Scheffer, paid a visit to Iraq to open the NATO-run Joint Staff Center-Training Academy on September 22. "This is an important day both for Iraq and NATO. We are openingthe NATO Training and Education Center here at Ar-Rustamiyah."

From this CentCom press release:

Iraqi and Coalition forces captured 78 suspected terrorists and seized eight weapons caches while carrying out a combined total of 12 raids and 66 search operations throughout the city from Sept. 28 through Sept. 30. Iraqi Security forces and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers also conducted nearly 1,600 combat patrols, and continued to receive tips from Iraqi citizens fed up with terrorist violence in their neighborhoods.

From this MNSTC-I (known as "min-sticky") press release:

Iraqi Army troops and Coalition forces detained 10 suspected AIF in joint operations conducted Oct. 2 near Baqubah.

The raids were intended to kill or capture insurgents and disrupt AIF cell activities.

The Oct 4 press release found here describes Iraqi troops repulsing an attack:

Iraqi Army troops and Coalition forces netted two weapons caches and two detainees after a night-long operation Oct. 3 near Ghalibiyah.

Iraqi Army troops repulsed a night-time attack by two terrorists resulting in a car chase that led to a house near Ghalibiyah. Both terrorists were wounded in the exchange but eluded capture. Troops cordoned off the house and found a stash of weaponry inside that included a suicide vest and an Al Qa’ida flag.

Acting on information found at the house, Iraqi and Coalition forces converged on two farmhouses at another location where they immediately found two VBIEDs and another weapons cache.

Sometime around 5:20 a.m. Iraqi Army soldiers nabbed the two insurgents as they attempted to get treatment at a local hospital for wounds received in their failed attack.

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For additional information, see Bill Roggio's latest post.