OIF Update, June 7, 2009: East Mosul COP to Transfer to Iraqi Security Forces

News from Multi-National Force - Iraq.
Dispatches from the Front:

MOSUL, Iraq, June 7, 2009 -- Across all of Iraq, Coalition forces are working toward their departure from major cities and turning over their combat outposts and installations to Iraqi Security Forces, the Iraqi Government or previous property owners in accordance with the Security Agreement requiring all combat troops out of Iraq’s cities by June 30.

Command Outpost Courage, located in eastern Mosul, is no different. It is being prepared for transition to the Iraqi Army prior to June 30. The outpost, originally a palace used by Saddam Hussein’s daughter, has had consistent Coalition forces presence for approximately six years allowing both Coalition forces and Iraqi Security Forces the ability to react quickly to incidents in Mosul.

“The COP allowed us to act as a quick reaction force,” said 1Lt. John Petersen, 1st platoon leader for Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment. “If something happened and an element needed back up, we were able to respond within five to ten minutes.”

With the closures of COP’s such as Courage, the Iraqi Security Forces will take the lead of the security in their cities.

“This will mark the end of a U.S. presence [in eastern Mosul] with all these buildings being turned back over to the Iraqi Army,” said Petersen. “A lot of Iraqi Army soldiers feel that they are ready to step up for this new challenge, but many of them think they will still need help from us.”

The help will come from transition teams, as part of the ongoing partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces and U.S Forces.

(From a Multi-National Force - Iraq news release.)

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