More than six years after a US-led coalition rode into the streets of Baghdad in tanks, American military forces are preparing to withdraw all combat troops from major cities in the region, and turn security responsibilities there entirely over to the newly-trained Iraqi Security Forces.

Despite a spike in violence in recent weeks, the US is remaining committed to a timetable for withdrawing all combat forces from the capitol and other major cities no later than the previously-set June 30 deadline.  As the sun sets on July 29th over Baghdad, Iraq's own security force is preparing for its very first day in complete command of a situation that their American compatriots has fought long and hard to bring under control.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki warned earlier this month that the US withdrawal would bring with it an inevitable rise in violent attacks as dormant terrorist and insurgent groups test the strength and resolve of the new Iraqi guardsmen and the very young central government in Baghdad.  Indeed, terrorist attacks have claimed the lives of numerous Iraqi civilians throughout the country in recent weeks, including what is believed to be an al-Qaeda truck bombing on June 22nd that killed 72 just outside of the Northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.  The bombing was the nation's deadliest in more than a year.  Just two days later, another bombing in Baghdad's Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City killed 78 and wounded more than 100 others.  All together, more than 250 have been killed since June 20.

Over the weekend, few US troops remained in the major urban areas of Iraq, having withdrawn to large bases outside of the major cities and near the country's borders, where arms trafficking and illegal border crossings of would-be terrorists continue to present challenges.

General Ray Odierno- the Commanding General of Muntinational Forces- Iraq, and the man primarily overseeing the ongoing development of Operation Iraqi Freedom- characterized the recent attacks as a violent collective attempt by terrorist detractors to draw attention away from progress made by the US-trained Iraqi soldiers.  "They're trying to use this timeframe...to divert attention from the success of the Iraqi security forces," Odierno told CNN.  He went on to express confidence in the progress and the future military plans for stability in the region.  "We've seen constant improvement in the security force, we've seen constant improvement in governance...And security remains good."

The US plans to fully withdraw all American forces from Iraq by the end of 2011.