Iraq: US forces killed 15 in Baqaba

By Kuna

BAGHDAD, June 20 (KUNA) -- US forces killed 15 gunmen in raids north of Baghdad on Tuesday, the US military said.

"The raids were targeting individuals linked with a suspected Al-Qaeda leader who was targeted in previous coalition operations," a US military statement said. The statement added that soldiers came under small arms fire from the roof of a house north of Baquba, as the operation got underway.

"The ground force returned fire, killing nine armed insurgents on the rooftop, and an additional two armed men were killed by coalition helicopter supporting fire," the statement added.

The support helicopter hit power lines and had to make an emergency landing, the military said. None of the crew was injured.

After securing the helicopter, troops attacked a second building, where the suspected insurgents had fled, the military said. One man was killed by a sniper as he tried to attack the troops from a close by rooftop.

The force cleared the buildings, detaining the three insurgents. The captured individuals were found hiding amidst a group of women.

Meanwhile, in Kirkuk, an Iraqi police source told KUNA that four suspected insurgents were apprehended on the charge of attacking Kirkuk's airport.

The source said that two of the four suspects confessed during interrogations and that investigation with the other two is underway. (end) ahh.sbr.

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