- Title: IRAQ: U.S. air strike in Iraq kills at least 11, including civilians.
- Date: 23rd October 2007
- Summary: (W3) VILLAGE 15 KM SOUTH OF TIKRIT, IRAQ (OCTOBER 23, 2007) (REUTERS) ** ( BORDER AROUND IMAGE THROUGHOUT/ INTERMITTENT FAULT ** ) U.S. TROOPS AND IRAQI POLICEMEN AT THE SITE OF THE AIRSTRIKE MORE OF U.S. TROOPS AND IRAQI POLICEMEN AT SITE
- Embargoed: 7th November 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAAFMBR0WCS8IN89UNRYIUOGXWB
- Story Text: The U.S. military said six Iraqi civilians were among 11 people killed in an air strike by an attack helicopter north of Baghdad early on Tuesday (October 23).
The military said it had been targeting a group of five men who fled into a house after the helicopter crew saw them placing a roadside bomb in an area south of Samarra.
Residents said 14 people were killed, including women and children.
"Farmers were watering plants when planes attacked them. A wounded man was brought to the house and a large group of people gathered to see.
There were a large number of people and I was one of them when they (Americans) fired a missile on us. I was standing outside the house. Twelve or thirteen people were killed and nine others were wounded," said one resident who witnessed the air strike.
Military spokesman Major Peggy Kageleiry said the militants had gone into hiding in a house with civilians in it endangering the lives of the villagers.
She said the incident was under investigation, but according to initial reports five "military age males" and six civilians were among those killed.
The U.S. military is already investigating another deadly air strike in which nine children and six women were killed on October 11 during an operation targeting senior leaders of al Qaeda in the Lake Thar Thar area 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Baghdad.
The Iraqi government has also protested a weekend raid by U.S. forces in the Shi'ite stronghold of Sadr City in which U.S. troops backed by attack helicopters said they killed 49 gunmen. Police put the toll at 13 and said they were all civilians, including two toddlers. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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