The American administrator of Iraqi affairs says that insurgents have changed their tactics and are now focusing their attacks on Iraqis instead of coalition forces. Paul Bremer said on Tuesday in Baghdad to reporters that the security situation has changed. In the past, attacks were mostly directed at the coalition; now, terrorist attacks against Iraqis have become commonplace. Paul Bremer stated that insurgents are now trying to intimidate innocent Iraqis because they have been unable to intimidate the coalition. He commented that the insurgents will not succeed because the people of Iraq will not succumb to terrorism. He warned that in the coming months, as the coalition begins the process of transferring sovereignty to new Iraqi leadership, there may be more violence. General John Abizaid, head of the U.S. Central Command, stated that coalition forces are intensifying military operations against the insurgents in response to their attacks. Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that American forces are investigating the theft of radioactive cobalt from the main weapons testing site of Saddam Hussein outside Baghdad.
Insurgents Have Shifted Their Attacks from Coalition Forces to Iraqis
Insurgents in Iraq have shifted their focus from attacking coalition forces to targeting innocent Iraqis, as stated by Paul Bremer. This change in tactics is seen as an attempt to intimidate the local population due to the insurgents' failure to affect coalition forces. The situation raises concerns about increased violence as the coalition prepares to transfer sovereignty to a new Iraqi leadership.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Insurgents in Iraq have shifted their attacks from coalition forces to targeting innocent Iraqis, as stated by Paul Bremer. This change indicates a new strategy to intimidate the local population amid ongoing military operations.
- Insurgents are now focusing on Iraqi civilians instead of coalition troops.
- Increased violence is anticipated as the coalition prepares to transfer sovereignty to Iraqi leadership.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, insurgency against coalition forces grew, but this shift to targeting civilians reflects a change in strategy amid political transitions.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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