WASHINGTON — Thousands of troops from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard have resumed control of a large swath of Iraq north of Baghdad.

Col. Marc Ferraro, commander of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, said in a conference call Wednesday with reporters that the Iraqis have shown a willingness to work with the troops. But he also says the area remains dangerous.

In the month since more than 4,000 troops from armories across Pennsylvania have arrived, one soldier has been killed and two have been seriously injured.

Ferraro resumed control Tuesday of the mostly rural, 900-square-mile region, based in Taji, Iraq.