It’s a big day in Iraq. Top U.S. officials talk about the next step in Iraq for both U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces.

Below is a portion of a press conference which took place prior to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates departing Germany:

Q: So today is an important day — the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraqi cities.  We’ve seen a peak of violence these past weeks and your commanders and yourself said that it was pretty predictable.  However, I was wondering if you could give us an assessment of the security in Iraq for the next month?  What is the Pentagon’s assessment?  What might happen?

SEC. GATES:  Well, I think it really varies around the country.  You have some places like Fallujah and Ramadi and Kirkuk, Basra that are pretty quiet.  Mosul — they were in the middle of a fight in Mosul when this deadline came, and we’re seeing some of these high profile suicide attacks in Baghdad.

And I think the general view is that part of General Odierno and what he has been anticipating for weeks was that al Qaeda, in particular, as soon as we began — two things.  First, as soon as we began to leave the cities, al Qaeda would try and reignite the sectarian violence, and to the degree that he has seemed relatively positive about developments, I think it’s because even after these high profile bombings and with a lot of casualties, that sectarian violence has not reignited.  And I think his view is most Iraqis are sick and tired of the violence.

The other thing is al Qaeda and others trying to increase the level of violence to try and pretend that they were the ones that forced us out of the cities and also to try and demonstrate deficiencies of the Iraqi security forces.

So this is — I think our commanders have anticipated these strategies on the part of the remaining al Qaeda and a few others, to try and take advantage of our withdrawal to get into the cities.  And the failure to spark new sectarian violence is what is, I think, making them as positive as they sound.

Q: So what do you expect for the next month to happen?

SEC. GATES:  Well, I expect that there’ll continue to be sporadic attacks as people try and take advantage of our being out of the cities.  But we’re not — you know, we’re not coming home and in many respects, being out of the cities and able to focus on, say, the belts around Baghdad and some of these other areas may, in fact, allow us to help the Iraqi security forces by preventing those who want to foment trouble from getting into the cities.

So I think we can continue the partnership that’s been developed with the Iraqi security forces.  We’ll just be doing it outside the cities.

To view the entire press conference, click here.

Below is a portion of the Department of Defense news briefing, which took place from the Pentagon; the briefing involved General Ray Odierno which was beamed via satellite from Iraq:

BRYAN WHITMAN (deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Public Affairs):  General, this is Bryan Whitman at the Pentagon.  Can you hear me okay? 

                GEN. ODIERNO:  I can, Bryan.  How are you today? 

                MR. WHITMAN:  Good afternoon.  And good morning to the press corps here in Washington.  We are privileged to have General Odierno, the commanding general, Multinational Forces-Iraq, joining us this morning.  As you will recall, he took command of MNF-I in September of last year, following his command as the Multinational Corps commander in Iraq; and a frequent participant in this format.  This is — this marks a dozen for him.  This is his twelfth appearance in this format. 

                And certainly appreciate and are grateful for you giving us some time today on this important occasion — a historic day in Iraq, a  real milestone in Iraqi progress – and to give us a brief overview; and then, to take your questions.  General Odierno, welcome. 

                GEN. ODIERNO:  Thank you, Bryan.  And good morning, everybody.  I just want to make a very quick statement here.  Then I’ll get on to your questions. 

                As Bryan just said, today is a very important day for MNF-I, as we continue to move towards our objective of a sovereign, secure, stable and self-reliant Iraq.  30 June, 2009, also marks a significant milestone for Iraq, as the Iraqi security forces assume responsibility for security within the cities across the country.  It is a day when Iraqis celebrate as they continue to move towards exercising their full sovereignty. 

                In accordance with the security agreement between the United States and Iraq, U.S. combat forces have completed the withdrawal out of Iraqi cities.  A small number of U.S. forces will remain in cities to train, advise, coordinate with Iraqi security forces, as well as enable them to move forward.  We will also support civil capacity efforts led by the U.S. Embassy, Baghdad; the government of Iraq; and the United Nations Assistance Mission here in Iraq.  

                Outside the cities, U.S. forces will continue to conduct full- spectrum and stability operations by, with and through our Iraqi security force partners. 

                Our combined efforts will establish a layer of defense as Iraqis secure the cities.  Our combat forces, partnering with the Iraqi security forces, will secure the belts and borders in an attempt to eliminate safe havens and sanctuaries and to limit freedom of movement of insurgents and prevent the facilitation of foreign fighters through the borders. 

                The U.S. is committed to full, transparent and continued implementation of the security agreement in a spirit of partnership with the sovereign nation of Iraq.  The Iraqi people should be very proud of the dedication, progress and sacrifice of the Iraqi security forces and the government of Iraq.  Their accomplishments in preparing for this day are commendable. 

                The American people can also be very proud as well of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as our civilians, who have worked so hard over the past years, and tirelessly, and sacrificed so much in helping the people of Iraq progress towards a peaceful and democratic society. 

                So with that, I’d be happy to take your questions.

To view the rest of the briefing, click here.

Iraqis celebrate a signifcant milestone in their security. EUCOM has a new commander. Plus, the latest on the safety of U.S. Forces in Honduras.

Iraqi troops take the lead in major cities. Adm. James Stavridis takes charge of U.S. European Command. The Marine Corps’ most decorated aviator is buried.

Admiral Timothy Keating told an audience in Washington, DC North Korea’s recent activities are disturbing and unsettling.

The Commander of U.S. Central Command, Gen. David Petraeus, spoke with reporters in Cairo Monday about Iraqi forces taking the lead in their country’s security.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen, spoke with his Russian counterpart, Gen. Nikolai Makarov, about future challenges both countries face.

The Army chief of staff announces the assignment for the following officers:

• Brig. Gen.Thomas A. Harvey, deputy assistant chief of staff, C/J-4, U.N. Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea, to commanding general, 19th Sustainment Command (expeditionary), Korea.
• Brig. Gen. Xavier P. Lobeto, commanding general, 19th Sustainment Command (expeditionary), Korea, to deputy commanding general, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Afghan and coalition forces disrupted Taliban and Haqqani terrorist activities in recent operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

Coalition forces launched precision air strikes overnight against senior Haqqani commanders and command posts in the remote mountains of western Khost province.

The militants are believed to have aided in the movement of foreign fighters through the Khost-Gardez Pass and throughout Afghanistan.

Coalition aircraft destroyed a pair of command bunkers, killing more than a dozen militants.

Elsewhere, Afghan forces, assisted by coalition forces, conducted multiple operations in Khost, Ghazni and Kandahar provinces June 28. The operations were intended to disrupt the flow of foreign fighters, weapons and explosives in the country.

In the Sabari district, north of Khost city in Khost province, the force searched a compound where intelligence sources indicated militant activity and detained 10 suspected Haqqani militants.

In the southern province of Ghazni, southeast of the city of Gilan, the force pursued suspected militants who were wearing suicide vests. When they engaged the force, the militants were killed. The force recovered several grenades, an AK-47 assault rifle and a Kalashnikov automatic weapon.

In Kandahar, the combined force assaulted a hideout believed to be the safe haven of a Taliban commander responsible for several roadside-bomb and small-arms attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the region.

The force was engaged by hostile fire during their search of the area and immediately eliminated the threat. The force recovered two AK-47 assault rifles, a Kalashnikov automatic weapon, military load-bearing equipment with magazines, two fragmentation grenades and two radios.