Iraqi police near Ramadi open fire on 'coalition forces'; 3 police killed, 1 wounded

Above: Iraqi police in Ramadi watch demonstrators in the street outside their station in March.

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three armed men, wounded one and detained seven suspected terrorists during a raid Monday morning targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq network northeast of Ramadi.

During the course of the operation, ground forces began receiving small arms fire from armed men in two separate buildings. Using appropriate self-defense measures, Coalition Forces returned fire.

The men killed and wounded were later identified as Iraqi Police.

Prior to the operation, Coalition Forces coordinated their operation and no Iraqi Police were known to be in the area.

“Coalition Forces express their deepest sympathies to the families of the Iraqi Police who were killed,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “We do everything we can to reduce risk to friendly forces.”

The incident is currently under investigation.

Later in the operation, Coalition Forces cleared another targeted building and detained seven suspected terrorists with alleged ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq.

From the MNF

Note: Wire service reports are reporting this as a 'friendly fire' incident, but the plain language of the official MNF report above indicates otherwise. Along with local police forces, Iraq also has a national police force, the FPS. The statement does not indicate which force was involved.

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