Baghdad: The US has said that 15 women and children were killed during a military operation near Baghdad.

A spokesman for the US military said the operation, involving both air and ground attacks, was designed to strike at senior members of Al Qaeda in Iraq.

The spokesman added that 19 suspected insurgents also died in the assault in the Lake Tharthar area.

The attack was launched after reports that the senior officials were meeting in Lake Tharthar.

An initial air strike, which killed four people, then led to an exchange of fire on the ground and further air strikes on a building in which the men are said to have taken shelter in.

After the assault was over, US troops found a further 15 dead suspected insurgents along with 15 dead civilians at the scene.