1. Multi-National Division – Center's Operations during the 2007-2008 Troop Surge
- Author:
- Farook Ahmed
- Publication Date:
- 04-2008
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Institute for the Study of War
- Abstract:
- Prior to June 2007, there was minimal Coalition presence in the suburban "belts" that ring Baghdad. As a result, by December 2006, al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) had sanctuary in the Tigris, Euphrates and Diyala river valleys north and south of Baghdad. AQI was in control of a relatively small section of West Baghdad. Insurgents used the areas south of Baghdad, particularly the area of Arab Jabour, as supporting nodes to build improvised explosive devices (IEDs), Vehicle-Borne IEDs (VBIEDs - car and truck bombs) and then move them into Baghdad. Captured documents show that the group's strategy was to control those areas and then project its power into Baghdad with the ultimate goal of overtaking the city.
- Topic:
- Islam, Armed Struggle, Sectarianism, and Sectarian violence
- Political Geography:
- Middle East and Arabia