BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) – American forces launched a “precision strike” Friday on insurgents tied to Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the turbulent western city of Fallujah, the U.S. military said.
The military said the attack was aimed at 10-12 terrorists, but didn’t say how many people were killed or hurt.
Dr. Kamal Al-Ani said from a Fallujah hospital that five civilians, including three children, were wounded Friday morning after an American warplane fired a missile that landed in the garden of a house in the Jubail neighborhood, south of Fallujah. It appeared to be the same strike.
Associated Press Television News footage showed a massive crater beside a house.
The military said in a statement sent to The Associated Press that the attack was conducted in coordination with the Iraqi government.
“Based on multiple sources of intelligence, the attack targeted 10-12 terrorists with known ties to the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi network of foreign terrorists,” the statement said. “The anti-Iraqi forces were struck while in the courtyard of a house; the house was left intact,” the statement added.
The owner of the house denied any connection to al-Zarqawi.
“We were sleeping in the morning when a U.S. missile hit our house,” Saddam Jassim said as he and his brother were clearing debris caused by the missile attack.
“We have nothing to do with resistance or al-Zarqawi. These are pretext used by U.S. military to terrorize the people in Fallujah because U.S. soldiers are unable to face the insurgents.”
On July 18, a U.S. airstrike authorized by Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi hit purported trenches and fighting positions in Fallujah used by al-Qaida linked foreign fighters, killing 14 people, Iraqi officials said.
Since the U.S. Marines pulled back from Fallujah – a focal point of resistance to the U.S. occupation – after besieging the city for three weeks in April, the U.S. military has been limited to using missiles attacks and airstrikes to hit potential targets there.
AP-ES-07-23-04 0429EDT
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