Report: U.S. air strike in Baghdad kills 14, destroys 11 houses

Left: A woman stands inside her destroyed home following the air strike today in Baghdad.

At least 14 reportedly killed in U.S. attack in Baghdad

At least 14 people were killed early Thursday in a U.S. attack on a western Baghdad neighborhood, police and residents said...

Some houses' roofs were caved in and other homes were completely destroyed in the early-morning attack in the Washash area, next to the Mansour district of Baghdad...

Residents reported hearing explosions at around 3 a.m. that then went on for about 45 minutes to an hour.

A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said U.S. helicopters had attacked the area, killing 14 civilians and injuring 10 others.

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

U.S. air strike in Baghdad kills 14 - police

U.S. airstrikes on a Shi'ite neighbourhood in Baghdad overnight killed at least 14 people including one woman and destroyed 11 houses, Iraqi police and residents said on Thursday.

The U.S. military said U.S. special forces called in the strikes after coming under fire from gunmen on rooftops during an operation against Shi'ite militants suspected of killing local police and Sunni Arabs...

Reuters television footage showed at least 11 buildings caved in or levelled in three adjoining streets in the densely packed neighbourhood, where fighters loyal to anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr are known to operate...

Many residents were sleeping on the roofs of their houses at the time, trying to keep cool in the oppressive summer heat.

Read the rest at Reuters/Alternet