U.S. kills 25 Shiite militia in gunfight

HAMID AHMED, Associated Press Writer: U.S. forces backed by attack aircraft killed at least 25 Shiite militia fighters north of Baghdad Friday in an operation targeting a cell accused of smuggling weapons from Iran, the military said.

The troops were seeking the commander of a rogue militia group believed to be associated with the Quds Force, an elite branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the U.S. military said.

Gunmen opened fire on the soldiers with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, and at least one man was carrying what appeared to be an anti-aircraft weapon, the military said. Ground forces called for air support when the fighters kept coming toward them, the military said. Two buildings were destroyed in airstrikes, it said.

The U.S. military said separately that it was investigating the deaths of three civilians who were shot by American troops near a checkpoint set up by Iraqis who have joined forces against extremists.

In Friday's pre-dawn raid on the Shiite militia members, U.S. aircraft repeatedly bombed the neighborhood in Khalis, a Shiite enclave about 50 miles north of Baghdad, according to an Iraqi army official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information. At least 24 were killed, 28 were injured, most of whom were in critical condition, and several others were missing, he said.

He said civilians were killed when they rushed out to help those hurt in the initial bombing.

The U.S. military said it had no reports that any Iraqi civilians were killed. (More)

LSB: This is what happens when you mistrust your own government. Was this an actual 'cell smuggling weapons from Iran,' or is this one of the Bush Administrations lies to support its march to war with Iran? The Iraqi army official says civilians were were killed in the raid; the U.S. military says no civilians were killed? Where is the truth and where is the propaganda? I'd like to say that I believe the U.S. military, but given the way Gen. Petraeus counts the war dead I have doubts.