Tall Afar, Iraq
In a huge assault last week, more than 8,500 Iraqi and American troops took back a city that has been controlled by insurgents for nearly a year. Tall Afar, located near the Syrian border, had been functioning as insurgents’ staging ground for operations across northern Iraq. At least 150 insurgents were killed and hundreds captured in the battle. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told The Washington Post that Iraqi troops were now so well trained and experienced that the U.S. could withdraw 50,000 of its own troops by the end of the year. U.S. military officials, speaking anonymously, said it was too soon to be discussing a specific timetable for withdrawal.
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