Fresh security operation launched in Diala

DIALA, Sept. 21 (Iraqi News) – Iraqi security forces on Sunday launched a new military operation in Diala province with the aim of enhancing security in former al-Qaeda strongholds, the director of the National Command Center in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior said.   “The operation aims at maintaining security in the neighborhoods of al-Muallemeen, al-Katoun and al-Mufarraq in Baaquba city after police and army forces have had full control over them during Operation Bashaer al-Kheir (Promise of Good), which is currently taking place in the province,” Staff. Maj. Gen. Abdelkareem Khalaf told IraqiNews.com- Voices of Iraq- (Iraqi News). “A third regiment was formed today from emergency police forces to help maintain security in the three neighborhoods,” he added. Since late July 2008, Iraqi security forces have been conducting a wide-scale security operation, codenamed Bashaer al-Kheir , with the aim of tracking down al-Qaeda operatives in the province. Diala province, a mix of Sunnis and Shiites, extends to the northeast of Baghdad as far as the Iranian border. Its capital is Baaquba, 57 km northeast of Baghdad. It covers an area of 17,685 square kilometers (6,828 sq mi). A large portion of the province is drained by the Diala River, a major tributary of the Tigris. Because of its proximity to two major sources of water, Diala’s main industry is agriculture, primarily dates grown in large Date Palm groves. It is also recognized as the orange capital of the Middle East. In January 2008 Operation Phantom Phoenix was launched in an attempt to eradicate the remnants of al-Qaeda network following the Diala province campaign between 2006 and 2007.   SS (S) 1