Before dawn on June 8, dozens of fighters overran the home of Baqubah's police chief, Col. Ali Jorani, killing his wife, two brothers and 11 bodyguards. Jorani was not at home at the time.
His predecessor in the job, Safa Atimimi, died in an April 23 car bombing that killed nine others.
Late last year, the U.S. military stepped up oversight and training of the Iraqi security forces.
When U.S. reinforcements arrived from Baghdad in mid-March, they began systematically pursuing the insurgents one neighborhood at a time, then setting up permanent bases. Two east Baqubah neighborhoods have been largely pacified, U.S. commanders said.
About 10,000 U.S. and Iraqi troops are involved in the campaign, launched Tuesday in west Baqubah. In Khatoon, the southernmost section of the operations area, the U.S. military conducted earth-shaking bombing runs and house-to-house searches for two days, punctuated by occasional gunfights, before bringing in the Iraqi troops.
Not a 'ragtag bunch'
The Iraqi soldiers who deployed Thursday appeared more professional than their predecessors. They were in full uniform and body armor. Most carried assault rifles, and a few were armed with rocket-propelled grenades.
"They weren't a ragtag bunch," said Capt. Matthew Ryan James, commander of the Army's Alpha Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, which rides in armored Strykers.
To try to get additional information from residents, James sent them to areas that had been largely cleared by the Americans.
"We just want to introduce them to the neighborhood and maybe pick up some human intel," he said.
James said he was impressed with the Iraqis' ability to pick up on details and lead the Americans to weapons caches. On their first day, the Iraqis made three arrests.
The Iraqi soldiers also took charge of supplying food and water to their troops, rather than relying on U.S. transportation, James said.
The troops were enthusiastic about patrolling with the Americans but became more hesitant when asked to enter a building on their own.
"They like you to be with them," said Sgt. Corey Oliver of Alpha Company's 3rd Platoon.
When residents pointed out vehicles used by insurgents, the Iraqi soldiers wanted to burn them. The Americans allowed it, explaining that it sent a message to the community that the Iraqi army was in charge.
But the Americans said the Iraqis need to earn the trust of residents who can point out the insurgents in their midst.
