The Iraqi Ministry of Defense is ready to gain operational control of the 4th Iraqi Army Division as early as next week, the Multi-National Coalition said in a draft statement received Saturday. The move would be the second transfer of an Iraqi division from Coalition control this month.
"It's all about becoming independent and self-sufficient," said Lt. Col. Michael Negard, the spokesman for the Multi-National Security Transition Command. MNSTC-I is the group in charge of training the Iraqi Defense Forces.
On Sept. 7, Coalition Forces transferred operational control of Iraq's Air Force and Navy to the Iraqi Joint Headquarters, the top military level of the Iraqi chain of command. At the same time, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense activated the Iraqi Ground Forces Command (IGFC). The Coalition then transferred control of the 8th Iraqi Army Division to the command. |