US: Control of Iraq-Syria border re-established

Recently completed military operations have re-established Iraqi control of the Iraq-Syrian border, says the spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq.

US Major General Rick Lynch, in a December 1 briefing with reporters in Baghdad, said the Iraqi security forces now secure 258 border forts, up from 51 a year ago. With the addition of technological advances at border crossings, they also have disrupted the flow of terrorists and foreign fighters from Syria.

Elements of the insurgency prefer different weapons, according to Lynch. Those affiliated with Zarqawi's network use suicide bombers, while the so-called rejectionists Ð Iraqis opposed to the formation of a democratic government Ð use improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The increased use of IEDs in October resulted in high casualties. But Lynch attributed a sharp drop in the number of suicide bombings in November to decisive coalition operations against the Zarqawi network.

About 96 percent of suicide bombers have been foreigners, he said, recruited and brought into Iraq by Zarqawi. Progress against his forces has been made by limiting his ability to import recruits, killing many of his key leaders, restricting his freedom of movement and denying him weapons, Lynch said.

A growing number of weapon caches have been taken out of circulation he said.