U.S. military says kills 25 insurgents in Iraq

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-11-15T054558Z_01_L15125788_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-QAEDA.xml

Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:46am ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces backed by aircraft killed 25 suspected insurgents in operations targeting al Qaeda near the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

In a statement, the military said the suspected insurgents were killed during operations late on Tuesday and early on Wednesday west of Tarmiya. It said 21 suspects were detained.

The statement said U.S. forces called in aircraft to attack armed men seen acting with "hostile intent" in the area of the operation. One gunman was killed.

Ground forces then moved further into the area, where they came under fire. Troops again called in aircraft, killing 24 suspected insurgents.


http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL519639.htm

U.S. tribal allies in Iraq angry over airstrikes

BAGHDAD, Nov 15 (Reuters) - U.S. forces said they had killed 25 suspected insurgents in operations targeting al Qaeda militants near the capital, but Sunni Arab tribal leaders accused them on Thursday of killing pro-U.S. fighters.

The head of a Sunni Arab tribal group that has turned against al Qaeda and joined forces with the U.S. military told Reuters U.S. aircraft had bombed his men late on Tuesday night, killing 45, as they manned checkpoints just north of Baghdad.

U.S. forces have formed alliances with Sunni Arab tribes in western Iraq and in provinces around Baghdad, offering mostly paid employment to nearly 70,000 tribal fighters and former insurgents as part of its strategy to combat al Qaeda.

The U.S. military said it launched an operation late on Tuesday targeting suspected associates of senior al Qaeda leaders in Tarmiya, which is close to Taji. Troops backed by aircraft killed 25 gunmen, it said.

"Coalition forces observed several armed men in the target area and, perceiving hostile intent, called for supporting aircraft to engage," it said in a statement.