US troops 'misfire' missile in Baghdad wounding two soldiers, three civilians

Baghdad: Two soldiers and three civilians were injured after a missile fired by US forces at militants in east Baghdad missed its target and hit a US vehicle, the US military said on Sunday.

The military was targeting four people allegedly placing roadside bombs in the district of New Baghdad on Saturday. Two were killed after an aircraft fired a missile at them.

The second missile aiming for the two remaining people overshot its target and hit a US military vehicle and houses, setting them on fire.

The military said it was investigating the cause of the "misfire".

US forces often fire on militants with no effort to determine who else is in the area, critics have said.