Middle East

Iraq removes some of Baghdad's checkpoints to ease traffic

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Iraqi security forces remove a concrete barriers in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016. Iraqi authorities say they have started removing some of the security checkpoints in Baghdad in a bid to ease traffic in the country's capital. The development appears to reflect the government's confidence in its ability to secure Baghdad _ even as it wages a weeks-long offensive to take back Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, from the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) (The Associated Press)

Iraqi security forces dismantle a checkpoint in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016. Iraqi authorities say they have started removing some of the security checkpoints in Baghdad in a bid to ease traffic in the country's capital. The development appears to reflect the government's confidence in its ability to secure Baghdad _ even as it wages a weeks-long offensive to take back Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, from the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) (The Associated Press)

Iraqi security forces remove a concrete barrier in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016. Iraqi authorities say they have started removing some of the security checkpoints in Baghdad in a bid to ease traffic in the country's capital. The development appears to reflect the government's confidence in its ability to secure Baghdad _ even as it wages a weeks-long offensive to take back Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, from the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) (The Associated Press)

Iraqi authorities say they have started removing some of the security checkpoints in Baghdad in a bid to ease traffic in the country's capital.

The development appears to reflect the government's confidence in its ability to secure Baghdad — even as it wages a weeks-long offensive to take back Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, from the Islamic State group.

Baghdad has seen some attacks since the Mosul operation started, likely IS attempts to divert attention from the fighting.

Maj. Gen. Jalil al-Rubaie, says that more than 25 checkpoints and 85 patrols were removed on Tuesday from Baghdad's eastern side of Rasafa. He says more will be removed in the coming days in the city's western side.

Hundreds of much-criticized checkpoints have for years dotted Baghdad as authorities struggled to establish security.