A Defence Department memo reveals plans to dub the conflict in Iraq Operation New Dawn, broadcaster ABC reported Thursday night.
The memo from Defence Secretary Robert Gates to General David Petraeus, chief of the military's Central Command with responsibility for the Iraq conflict, says that the new name will take effect on September 1, "coinciding with the change of mission for US forces in Iraq." A Pentagon spokesman confirmed the contents of the memo, which was issued Wednesday, DPA reported.
The name reflects the upcoming withdrawal of US combat forces as agreed with the Iraqi government.
Since the 2003 invasion to topple Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, the US military has referred to the conflict as Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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