Najaf Aftermath
A religious cleric passes by the entrance to the holy Imam Ali Shrine as a hooded Iraqi police officer stands guard after the withdrawal of the Mahdi Army. Some Iraqi police worry they will be targets of violence and prefer to keep their identities hidden. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
Young men walk through rubble left from fighting between American forces and the Mahdi Army in the center of Najaf. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
Much of Najaf is in ruins after weeks of fighting and recent heavy bombing. U.S. Marines took over this key building several days ago, which had already been damaged. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
As a U.S. Marine prepares to leave Najaf, an Iraqi family walks toward the city center. Much of the town has been heavily damaged by fighting over the past weeks. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
A Marine from 1st Battalion, 4th Marines keeps an eye out for snipers on a rooftop overlooking the holy Iman Ali Shrine on Thursday, the day before the Mahdi Army agreed to leave the shrine. Sporadic fire could still be heard despite the ceasefire. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
Residents of Najaf celebrate the arrival of the Iraqi police, who took control of the holy Imam Ali Shrine on Friday, after the Mahdi Army agreed to leave. Thousands of residents still remained in the city despite weeks of heavy fighting and bombing. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
Iraqi police officers give honor to the doors of the holy Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf as they take control of the area. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
Members of Alpha (Raider) Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, move through the streets of Najaf, much of which has been heavily damaged by fighting and bombing over the past weeks. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
Members of Alpha (Raiders) Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, bow their heads in a moment of silence for two members of their company who were killed in action during the final effort to push out the Mahdi Army from the Imam Ali Shrine in the past two days. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
Iraqi police take control of the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
Dead bodies awaiting burial lie wrapped in blankets in a building across the street from the Imam Ali Shrine. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
A man sits in front of a Najaf building heavily damaged by fighting and bombing over the past weeks as a U.S. Marine looks around the property. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
An Iraqi police officer cries at the doors of the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf as the local forces take control of the shrine. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
A man stands at a distance from U.S. Marines at the time when the Mahdi Army agreed to leave the Imam Ali Shrine and citizens began to come out of their homes after weeks of heavy fighting. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
Members of Alpha (Raiders) Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, make their way back to their barracks after Iraqi police took control of Najaf. Two members of the Company were killed and 12 were injured in fighting with the Mahdi Army. (Carolyn Cole / LAT)
