Military: AC-130 strike kills 16 Basra gunmen

[unhappycamper]

Military: AC-130 strike kills 16 Basra gunmen
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Mar 30, 2008 10:00:50 EDT

BAGHDAD — The military says 16 enemy fighters have been killed in airstrikes supporting Iraqi troops during clashes with Shiite militiamen in Basra.

Military spokesman Maj. Brad Leighton says an AC-130 gunship strafed heavily armed militants attacking Iraqi forces from three rooftops in the southern city.

Iraqi police earlier claimed eight civilians, including two women and a child, had been killed when a U.S. warplane destroyed a house early Saturday.

But Leighton says U.S. special operations forces helped identify the militants before the airstrike.

British military spokesman Maj. Tom Holloway also says U.S. jets later dropped two precision-guided bombs on a suspected militia stronghold north of the city, but no casualties were reported.


Article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/03/ap_basraairstrike_033008/