The top American commander in Iraq, Gen. David H. Petraeus, and the second-ranking American officer, Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno are said to have given cautious approval to the plan, The New York Times reports Monday.

According to the newspaper, U.S. commanders held talks with Sunni groups in at least four areas of central and north-central Iraq where the insurgency has been particularly strong.

Many of the groups have had past links to al-Qaida but grew disillusioned with its tactics, particularly suicide bombings that have killed thousands of Iraqi civilians, the newspaper says.

In exchange for U.S. backing, the Sunni groups have agreed to fight al-Qaida and halt attacks against American units.

Critics of the strategy say it could amount to arming both sides in a future civil war or providing weapons that would later be used against American forces.