Falluja had long been disaffected from the government, and it was the first Iraqi city to fall under Islamic State control. The government tried to keep the militias out of Falluja to avoid antagonizing Sunni residents. But now, he said, some Sunni residents were cooperating with security forces to help root out Islamic State sleeper cells. For Mr. Rashid, the satisfaction of returning home was dimmed by resentment toward local Sunni officials charged with rebuilding the city. A tall, gray-whiskered man suddenly appeared: Mohammed Saeed, 49, a neighbor whom Mr. Rashid had not seen since 2013.

Source: New York Times February 10, 2017 07:52 UTC