U.S. airstrike kills 60 gunmen in Hilla (Iraq)

[sabra]

Source: Voice of Iraq

Hilla, Mar 26, (VOI)- More than 60 gunmen were killed on Wednesday evening as U.S. choppers fired rockets against buildings used by gunmen in central Hilla, 100 km south of Baghdad, Iraqi security source said.

"U.S. copters bombed sites used by gunmen in Hilla's neighborhoods of al-Askari, Ahmed Nader and Muhaizem, killing more than 60 militants and destroying some houses," the source, who requested anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).

From his part, Abdellatif Rayan, an MNF-Iraq media adviser told VOI that the operation was carried out as Iraqi forces requested an air support while clashing with gunmen in central Hilla.

Read more: http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrArticle=74346&NrIssue=2&NrSection=1

---

more:

http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSL26766126

Many killed by U.S. strike in Iraq's Hilla -sources

HILLA, Iraq, March 26 (Reuters) - Many people were killed or wounded by a U.S. air strike called to support Iraqi forces in the town of Hilla south of Baghdad on Wednesday, Iraqi security sources said.

U.S. forces confirmed the air strike and said they were not certain how many people had been killed but denied that there were large numbers of casualties.

One police source said at least 11 people were killed and 18 wounded in the strike, launched after Iraqi security forces called for support following street battles with Shi'ite militia members in the city's Thawra neighbourhood.

Another police source said 29 people were killed and 39 were wounded. He said six houses were destroyed in the strikes which lasted for an hour late on Wednesday evening.

[superconnected]

1. Should read US Airstrike randomly kills 60 ppl and they just happen to all be gun men.

Sort of like carpet bombing bagdad for 2 years never killed anyone but terrorists.

[Supersedeas]

2. collateral damage is just an abstract concept for the Bushist regime

[Robbien]

3. Who is this Voice of Iraq?

It reads as just another US funded propaganda site. It appears that if we just keep opening up a lot of differently named news sites all emanating from the same source, the Bush Admin believes it is fooling people.

[Barrett808]

5. State media, iirc. n/t

[L0oniX]

4. Another example of how the surge is working.

[Thepricebreaker]

6. 60 militants! Good..