13 Down, 5 To Go

The Iraqis are taking over yet another province, as the 13th of 18 provinces is returned to their control:

The U.S. military has handed over security responsibilities for the southern province of Wasit to Iraqi authorities.
Wasit province is the 13th of Iraq's 18 provinces to return to full government control. Iraqi authorities are now in charge of security throughout the south.
U.S. forces will remain in the mostly Shiite province to assist the Iraqis when needed.
Wasit borders Iran and was a stronghold of militant Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army before U.S.-backed Iraqi forces cracked down on the militia this year.

By: Brant