BREAKING NEWS

Iraq taking over security in cities from US

Iraqi forces are successfully filling the security vacuum as US combat troops withdraw from Iraqi cities ahead of a June 30 deadline, Iraq's UN envoy said Thursday. Ambassador Hamid al-Bayati said Iraq has already taken responsibility for 90 of the 138 military sites where US troops were in charge of security, and by the end of the month the ministries of defense and interior will be responsible for the remaining 48 sites.