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Iraq strike 'kills 15 civilians' | Iraq strike 'kills 15 civilians' |
(20 minutes later) | |
The US military says 19 suspected insurgents and 15 civilians, including nine children, have been killed in an operation north of Baghdad. | The US military says 19 suspected insurgents and 15 civilians, including nine children, have been killed in an operation north of Baghdad. |
The operation was targeted at senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq, in the Lake Tharthar region, it said. | The operation was targeted at senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq, in the Lake Tharthar region, it said. |
An initial air raid killed four insurgents and more air strikes were launched to back up US ground troops, a statement said. | An initial air raid killed four insurgents and more air strikes were launched to back up US ground troops, a statement said. |
A further 15 insurgents were found dead along with six women and nine children. | A further 15 insurgents were found dead along with six women and nine children. |
'Small-arms fire' | |
The US military said the initial air strike was launched after intelligence reports suggested senior members of al-Qaeda in Iraq were meeting in the area, 120km (75 miles) north of the capital. | The US military said the initial air strike was launched after intelligence reports suggested senior members of al-Qaeda in Iraq were meeting in the area, 120km (75 miles) north of the capital. |
The coalition said after the first air raid surveillance observed suspects fleeing to an area south of Lake Tharthar. | The coalition said after the first air raid surveillance observed suspects fleeing to an area south of Lake Tharthar. |
Coalition ground forces attacked a building in which insurgents were believed to be hiding but were engaged by small-arms fire, the statement said. Further air strikes were then called in. | |
After securing the area, ground forces found another 15 dead suspected insurgents along with 15 dead civilians. | |
Two suspected militants, one woman and three children were wounded and another suspect was detained, the statement said. | |
Maj Brad Leighton, a Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman, said: "We regret that civilians are hurt or killed while coalition forces search to rid Iraq of terrorism. | |
"These terrorists chose to deliberately place innocent Iraqi women and children in danger by their actions and presence." |