Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said in June Diyala province would be the next stage of fighting against Shiite militias.

The Diyala operations follow Iraqi military incursions into the southern port city of Basra, the Baghdad slum of Sadr City and assaults on remaining al-Qaida holdouts in the northern city of Mosul.

Sources familiar with the operation told Voices of Iraq "scores" of military vehicles arrived Friday in Baquba, the provincial capital of Diyala.

"The reinforcements came to participate in the imminent military operations in Diyala," the source said on condition of anonymity.

Maliki in late June ordered the Iraqi military to stand by to launch major operations in Diyala. Brig. Gen. Mohamed al-Askari of the Iraqi Defense Ministry said at the time military preparations were under way for the operation following a relatively quick clearing operation in Amarah, the provincial capital of Maysan.

Tribal elders in the area had complained to Iraqi officials that al-Qaida fighters had set up operations in the area and called on Baghdad to launch an offensive "on all armed groups" in the province.

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