Petraeus: Insurgents intensifying attacks, U.S. forces add Diyala province to surge targets

Above: U.S. soldiers prepare to embark on house-to-house raid operations in Diyala. Left: Baqouba is the capital city of Diyala.

Insurgents have sought to intensify attacks during a Baghdad security crackdown and additional U.S. forces will be sent to areas outside the capital where militant groups are regrouping, the new commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said Thursday.

U.S. Gen. David Petraeus said the troop buildups outside Baghdad will focus on Diyala province northeast of Baghdad, a growing hotbed for suspected Sunni extremists fleeing the U.S.-Iraqi security operation in Baghdad.

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