Iraqi forces initially responded with small-scale troop deployments to contain the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant militants soon after the militants moved into Fallujah in January. However, concerns about sparking a greater sectarian conflict pushed Baghdad to rely more on local tribal leadership to limit the militants' expanding presence in recent months. With an eye toward the April 30 parliamentary elections, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's preliminary negotiations with Anbar's tribal leaders sought to prevent Sunni resistance to the primarily Shiite government ahead of national polls. This was achieved primarily by al-Maliki agreeing not to move large numbers of the mostly Shiite national military forces into Anbar province, which is mainly Sunni Arab. The understanding was that the local tribes would lead the fight against the militants.