US airstrike destroys safe houses

Baghdad: Two women, a child and five insurgents were killed when US airstrikes destroyed two foreign fighter safe houses west of Baghdad on Saturday night.

Residents claim the death toll in the village of Al Lihaib is much higher, saying that as many as 24 people were killed, although the claims could not be independently confirmed.

The US military said in a statement, "Recent intelligence reports indicated the targeted building was being used to harbour foreign fighters. Intelligence reports also verified that several men were present at the targeted building during the time of the raid."

It said, "After the air strike destroyed the building, Coalition forces were able to determine that five terrorists, along with two women and one child, were killed."

A sixth insurgent was killed and three were detained by ground forces, said the statement.

"Coalition forces take precautions to mitigate risks to civilians while in pursuit of terrorists. However, terrorists continue to put innocent civilians in danger by operating among them," it said.