Baghdad, Iraq ? Military commanders are calling on America’s battle-hardened 3rd Infantry Division, which led the assault on Baghdad, to put down attacks by apparent loyalists of Saddam Hussein’s fallen regime in a troubled area west of the capital.

According to U.S. officers and military documents, the 3rd Infantry will move into the area around Fallujah, a deeply conservative city where the Americans are facing increasing hostility from Iraqis.

The division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team will relieve the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which has kept a small number of troops in Fallujah and nearby Habaniyah since U.S. forces took control of the area in mid-April, according to the division’s orders and officers speaking on condition of anonymity.

The brigade’s mission will be to remove supporters of Saddam’s Baath Party and other militias opposed to U.S. occupation. The second part of the mission will be to help restore any damaged infrastructure.

The operation is expected to begin within the next 10 days.

The Baath Party still has strong support in Fallujah and Habaniyah. On May 27, two 3rd Armored Cavalry soldiers were killed when two Iraqis opened fire at a checkpoint in Fallujah.

The attackers were killed and nine other 3rd Armored Cavalry soldiers were wounded in the firefight.