Hornet airstrike kills 2 militants in Iraq

[unhappycamper]

Hornet airstrike kills 2 militants in Iraq
By Sinan Salaheddin - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Apr 3, 2008 12:09:53 EDT

BAGHDAD — A U.S. F/A-18 fighter jet destroyed a house in the Shiite southern city of Basra, killing two militants after American and Iraqi ground forces came under fire, the military said Thursday. Iraqi witnesses and officials said at least three civilians were among the dead.

The American military said separately that it was looking into reports that civilians were killed in a second airstrike in Basra but it could provide no further details.

The strikes in Basra underscored the high tensions as the Iraqi government continues a crackdown against Shiite militias four days after radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his Mahdi Army fighters to stand down.

The failure to gain a quick and decisive victory over the militias has drawn U.S. forces into the fight and raised doubts about Iraqi military capability a week before top U.S. commander Army Gen. David Petraeus briefs Congress about prospects for further American troop cuts.

Three Iraqi civilians also were wounded in a U.S. airstrike targeting militants engaged in a gun battle with U.S. ground forces near the southern Shiite city of Hillah, according to a military statement.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/04/ap_airstrike_040308/