Backed by air power, US forces targeting militants believed to be responsible for the kidnapping of two coalition soldiers raided the main Shiite district in Baghdad yesterday. Iraqi officials said at least 13 people were killed, including women and children.
The US military said troops staged early morning operations in Sadr City, a stronghold of the Mehdi Army militia that is loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Iraqi police and hospital officials said helicopters and jet fighters bombed buildings during the 5am raid in the sprawling district and at least 13 people were killed, including a woman and three children. Fifty-two were wounded.
Several houses and stores were damaged.
The military statement said only that the raids were targeting criminals believed to be responsible for the kidnapping of coalition last November and in May.
It did not provide more details but said there was not evidence of civilian casualties.
"I don't yet have details on the number of terrorists killed, but I can say that we don't have any evidence of any civilians killed or wounded," spokesman Lieutenant Justin Cole said in an e-mail.
"Coalition forces only engage hostile threats and make every effort to protect innocent civilians," he said.
He said aircraft were used but was not more specific.
Relatives gathered at the Imam Ali hospital as the emergency room was overwhelmed with bloodied victims and the dead were placed in caskets covered by Iraqi flags.
"The 14-year-old child of my neighbor called Saif was killed by an airstrike and what is his guilt? Is he from the Mehdi Army? He is a poor student," a local resident who goes by the name Abu Fatmah said.
He apparently was referring to 14-year-old student Saif Alwan, whose uncle said was killed while sleeping on the roof, wearing a white robe, his uncle said, adding that Saif's mother and father were seriously wounded.
Fatmah said many of the casualties were people sleeping on the roof to seek relief from the hot weather and lack of electricity.
A US helicopter was spotted flying over the area while black smoke rose into the sky, reports said.
Other footage showed three bloodied boys sitting on hospital tables and an elderly man being treated for a head wound.
Mourners tied wooden coffins onto the tops of minivans while a plume of black smoke rose in the background.
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