Since early morning, Indian Standard Time, United States combat forces stationed in Iraq have begun the formal ‘transfer of power’ to the Iraqi authorities, thus giving back control of many major Iraqi cities to its police force and the security forces.

At midnight on Monday, the countdown clock being broadcast on Iraqi TV struck zero, thus marking the end of U.S combat role in Iraq. As of now, troops and equipments are being moved to  back to the U.S military bases outside the cities from where they would be back to the United States.

According to Sadiq al-Rikabi, a senior advisor to the Prime Minister of Iraq,

“The withdrawal of American troops is completed now from all cities after everything they sacrificed for the sake of security. We are now celebrating the restoration of sovereignty.”

The scenes on the streets of Iraq were not of violence, but of jubilation. Fireworks lit up Baghdad’s skyline, along with party in a central park, where patriotic songs were the prominent tracks amongst all singers.  Prime Minister of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki has declared the 30th of June a national holiday and coined this historic day in history as, National Sovereignty Day.

However, amid all the fireworks and parties, there are concerns about the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces and whether or not, they would be able to take control of a violent situation, in case the insurgency rises again?

All public places, holding the celebration events witnessed unprecedented turnover of people and an overwhelming amount of security personnel. The streets in Baghdad were dotted with checkpoints, armored vehicles and security personnel with all sorts of weapons.

On the topic of U.S troops withdrawal, Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger (U.S. military commander in Baghdad) said,

“On the eve of the 30th of June 2009 in accord with a security agreement between Iraq and America, Iraqis take the lead in Baghdad.”

The troop withdrawal is expected to end by August 2010, with each and every soldier back in the United States. The handover to Iraqi security forces is just one step for President Obama’s troop withdrawal initiative.

Via AP.