Due to the fact that American attacks were taking a toll on civilians as well as Iraqi insurgents, coalition forces faced growing criticism from within the Iraqi Governing Council, where Adnan Pachachi said, "these operations by the Americans are unacceptable and illegal."
De amerikanske angreb kostede både oprørerne og de civile dyrt, og blev i stigende grad kritiseret af det Irakiske Regerende Råd, hvor Adnan Pachachi sagde at "disse amerikanske operationer er uacceptable og ulovlige."