Until recently Baquba, the provincial capital of Diyala, was held by the Sunni militant group al-Qaeda in Iraq.
The US military have broken their hold and are now clearing houses of arms caches and supporting both the Iraqi army and the Sunni militia - known to the US military as Concerned Local Citizens - in their attempts to hold the city.
US soldiers make regular patrols - partly to show the local population that al-Qaeda in Iraq has gone, partly to maintain a flow of tips and information, and partly to ensure that insurgents cannot re-establish bases in the city.
There are many abandoned houses and these are used by insurgents to store arms.
Here, Sergeant Aaron Jackson, of 1st Platoon, Bravo Company 1-38 2nd Infantry explains how they clear houses - and watch for booby-traps.
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On patrol with the US army in Iraq
With the 1-38 INF, 4/2 SBCT in Diyala. Follow the link for video clips as well.
By Jonny Dymond, BBC News
Until recently Baquba, the provincial capital of Diyala, was held by the Sunni militant group al-Qaeda in Iraq.
The US military have broken their hold and are now clearing houses of arms caches and supporting both the Iraqi army and the Sunni militia - known to the US military as Concerned Local Citizens - in their attempts to hold the city.
