On January 1, a new security arrangement between the United States and Iraq comes into force.
New laws under the “Status of Forces Agreement” will give the Iraqi government legal power with regard to arrests made by U.S. troops. American soldiers will in future have to obtain warrants from local Iraqi judges before carrying out raids. U.S. officials say the new arrangements will force the American military to change tactics on the ground. According to the U.S. military the deal is about to bring a dramatic change into Iraq security.