The top U.S. military commander in Iraq, Army General Ray Odierno, said Tuesday that American combat forces have completed the planned withdrawal from Baghdad and other urban areas.
美军驻伊拉克最高指挥官、陆军将军奥迪耶诺星期二说，美国作战部队已经完成了从巴格达和其他城市撤军行动。
Speaking via satellite from Baghdad to reporters at the Pentagon, General Odierno said Iraqi security forces have taken control of all major metropolitan areas in the country.
奥迪耶诺将军从巴格达通过卫星向在五角大楼的记者说，伊拉克安全部队已经控制了国内所有主要的大城市。
"In accordance with the security agreement between the United States and Iraq, U.S. combat forces have completed the withdrawal out of Iraqi cities," he said. "A small number of U.S. forces will remain in cities to train, advise and coordinate with Iraqi security forces as well as enable them to move forward."
他说：“按照美国和伊朗的安全协议，美国作战部队已经完成了从伊拉克城市撤军的行动。少数美国军队将继续留在城市中，训练、提供咨询并协调伊拉克安全部队，同时使他们能够向前迈进。”
Odierno declined to estimate how many soldiers will remain in Iraqi cities, saying that number is likely to change on a day-to-day basis.
奥迪耶诺拒绝估计还有多少名士兵继续留在伊拉克城市。他说，这个数字可能每天都会变化。
The general said that outside the urban areas, U.S. forces will continue to conduct operations in coordination with Iraqi forces.
奥迪耶诺将军说，在城市以外地区，美军将配合伊拉克部队继续展开行动。
"Our combined efforts will establish a layered defense." he said. "As Iraqis secure the cities, our combat forces, partnering with 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."
他说：“我们共同的努力将建立一个多层的防御系统。伊拉克人守卫城市安全，我们的作战部队与伊拉克安全部队合作，将守卫不同地带和边境，以试图消除安全避难所和庇护所，并限制叛乱分子自由行动。”
U.S. and Iraqi officials had warned that insurgent groups and militias were likely to step up attacks in the period leading up to the June 30 deadline. There have been several bombings, including one on Tuesday in Kirkuk that killed and wounded dozens of people.
美国和伊拉克官员曾警告说，叛乱团体和民兵可能会在6月30日撤军前的一段时间内加强袭击。伊拉克也确实发生了一些爆炸事件，其中包括星期二在基尔库克发生的爆炸，导致几十人死亡和受伤。
General Odierno said some of the attacks are being carried out by militants with the help of neighboring Iran.
奥迪耶诺将军说，一些袭击是武装分子在邻国伊朗的帮助下发起的。
"We continue to still see training going on inside of Iran," he said. "We still believe weapons are moving and ammunition is moving from Iran into Iraq. We have not seen any adjustments made since the problem with the elections in Iran. They have kind of maintained themselves in a steady state."
他说：“我们依然看到伊朗境内在持续尽进行训练。我们仍然认为武器和弹药在从伊朗运往伊拉克。自从伊朗总统大选发生问题以来，我们还没有看到这些问题有任何调整。它们似乎保持了平稳的状态。”
Odierno said that when he first arrived in Iraq in 2006, the sectarian violence was so high it was difficult to see a way out.
奥迪耶诺说，当他2006年第一次到达伊拉克的时候，教派间的冲突非常严重，以至于他很难看到一个解决办法。
The general noted that there has been a vast improvement in security since then that made the withdrawal possible.
奥迪耶诺将军指出，在那以后，安全问题已经取得了巨大的进展，这也为撤军提供了可能性。
"Today was just another sign that I have a lot of hope that Iraq is going to be able to move forward as a secure, stable, sovereign Iraq that could be a long-term partner with the United States in the Middle East who has a democratic government," he said.
他说：“今天又是一个迹象，使我对伊拉克抱有很大的希望。伊拉克能够迈向安全、稳定、自主。这个拥有民主政府的国家将成为美国在中东地区的长期合作伙伴。”
General Odierno said there are about 131,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. He said he expects that number will be down to about 50,000 by September of next year. The U.S.-Iraq security agreement calls for the withdrawal of all U.S. forces by the end of 2011.
奥迪耶诺将军说，美国现在还有13万1千名美军在伊拉克。他说，预计这个数字到明年9月将减少到大约5万人。美伊安全协议要求美军在2011年底前全部撤出伊拉克。 |