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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Iraq strike 'kills 15 civilians' | Iraq strike 'kills 15 civilians' |
| (10 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 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. |
| The coalition statement expressed "regret" at the civilian deaths but blamed the loss of life on insurgents who it said had placed themselves among innocent people. | |
| 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 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, it said. |