Home > U.S. Airstrike on Fallujah House Kills 12
The U.S military launched a coordinated airstrike Monday on a safehouse in the turbulent city of Fallujah, the military said. At least 12 people were killed, officials and witnesses said.
Ambulances sped to the eastern side of the city, where U.S. airstrikes have frequently targeted safehouses believed to be used by members of Jordanian militant Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi’s network. Rescue workers picked up remains of the dead, witnesses said.
According to Iraqi witnesses, the house was not used by AL-Zarqawi’s network and the U.S. airstrike has targeted the ten people family who was living in the house and two other Iraqi pedestrians.
Volunteer Amer Hassan said he saw "eight bodies pulled out," as he lifted debris frantically and dozens searched for people buried in the wreckage.
Four 500-pound bombs and two 1,000-pound bombs were dropped, the military said. The military said the operation employed precision weapons and underscored the resolve of coalition and Iraqi forces "to jointly destroy terrorist networks within Iraq."
"U.S. jets shelled a residential house in the al-Shuhdaa neighborhood in Fallujah," said police Capt. Mekky Hussein al-Zaidan.
Dr. Diaa Jumaili of Fallujah Hospital said 10 bodies had arrived there, most of them dismembered. U.S. forces have hit the area with four airstrikes since June 19, killing dozens. Al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian militant said to be connected to al-Qaida, is believed to be behind a series of coordinated attacks on police and security forces that killed 100 people only days before U.S. forces handed over power to an Iraqi interim government June 28.
Al-Zarqawi is also believed to be behind the beheading of two hostages, American Nicholas Berg and South Korean Kim Sun-il.
U.S. authorities Wednesday increased to $25 million the reward for information leading to his arrest, more than doubling the previous bounty of $10 million.
U.S. forces have hit the area with four airstrikes since June 19, killing dozens. Al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian militant said to be connected to al-Qaida, is believed to be behind a series of coordinated attacks on police and security forces that killed 100 people only days before U.S. forces handed over power to an Iraqi interim government June 28. (Masnet & News Agencies)