An extra 30,000 US troops have been deployed in Iraq, mainly in and around the capital Baghdad, since the launch of the security drive, or "surge", in February.
The BBC World Service is monitoring its effects, week by week, by looking at casualty figures, the pressure on hospitals and quality of life for ordinary civilians.
The graphics and analysis are based on figures from the US and Iraqi authorities, Baghdad's hospitals and three families from different neighbourhoods in the capital.
SECURITY
During the seven-day period from 1 August to 8 August there were 397 violent deaths across Iraq.
While still high, Iraqi civilian deaths have fallen slightly as have the number of Iraqi military killed, from 23 last week to 10 this week.
The number of US soldiers killed remains the same as last week - 19.
On 8 August a massive security operation and a three-day curfew began in Baghdad to protect Shiite pilgrims to the Kadhimiya shrine.
On the same day, US officials reported the number of US troops in Iraq had reached its highest ever level at nearly 162,000.
But this peak was due to the regular replacement of units and did not represent an additional troop build-up, a US Defence Department spokesman said.
ECONOMICS
Fuel shortages remain a major problem for Iraqis, with long power cuts and fuel queues a common feature of civilian life, particularly in Baghdad.
The families helping paint a picture of these hardships in this survey are from different areas of the city - which can mean different pressures according to the religious make-up of the area and the subsequent security risks.
Surge report 1 August
Family 1 is located in Palestine Street, a Shia neighbourhood in the east of the capital.
Family 2 is located in Zayouna, a mixed neighbourhood in south-east Baghdad.
Family 3 lives in Saba Abkar, a northern Sunni neighbourhood.
Fuel shortages improved slightly for the Palestine Street family and stayed the same for the family in Zayouna who are getting no power at all. The family in Saba Abkar saw their access to power plunge from 30 to 12 minutes a day.
Most neighbourhoods in Baghdad are suffering food and gas shortages because of the three-day curfew during the Kadhimiyia shrine visit.
People are complaining of soaring food prices caused by the high cost of transporting food to Baghdad and difficulty in getting gas.
The Adhamiyia district is suffering food shortage because food trucks have not been allowed access for five days after the US forces and Iraqi National Guards raided the district and imposed a curfew there.
Electricity was cut for the entire week there. People whose relatives are killed have to carry their coffins by wooden cart to bury them inside the graveyard of Adhamiyia.
People there find it hard to get bread because of the lack of power and gas.
Two main petrol stations in Baghdad were attacked last week, which led to more long queues and hours of waiting.
Because of the lack of electricity and fuel, most people have to line up to buy ice blocks to get cold water. A block of ice costs 10,000 Iraqi dinars ($8).
Also, a loaf of bread has doubled in price since a month ago, and is now 100 dinars.
Due to the shortage of water, some families have started to dig wells. It costs 125,000 dinars to make a well.
BAGHDAD HOSPITALS
At the al-Kindi hospital, there were 14 consultants on duty and six doctors at the Emergency Unit, dealing with 95 wounded. Eighteen people died at the hospital, a rise on last week's figure.
There were 31 patients with violence-related injuries at the al-Yarmouk hospital and 48 people died there last week.
This week the Baghdad morgue received 60 unidentified bodies from different districts in the capital and its outskirts.
Data compiled by BBC producer Mona Mahmoud
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