At least 10 Iraqis were killed and 40 wounded in Fallujah on Sunday in what appeared to be a fresh United States bombardment of the flashpoint city and in earlier clashes between US troops and insurgents.
“We have 10 killed and 40 injured from both the bombardment and the earlier clashes,” said Doctor Rafih al-Issawi, director of Fallujah’s general hospital.
Panicked residents were seen rushing to the hospital to check on their loved ones or to give blood, an AFP correspondent said.
Powerful explosions rocked the Al-Askari neighbourhood in the northeastern part of Fallujah early on Sunday in what appeared to be a US bombardment of the city as mosques were heard broadcasting prayers over loudspeakers and ambulances and cars rushed to the area.
The US military had no immediate comment but confirmed earlier clashes with insurgents on Saturday.
Fighters in civilian clothing attacked a marine position near Fallujah with mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire, prompting US troops to return fire with tanks, said a US military statement.
Marines also bombarded, including by air, a building in the city’s industrial neighbourhood from where insurgents were suspected to be firing on the military post, it said without indicating casualties.
Local police said the clashes broke out at about 6pm local time in the eastern part of Fallujah around the city’s industrial neighbourhood.
The fresh violence came less than 48 hours after fighting in Fallujah left 20 insurgents dead, the US military said. The city’s main hospital gave a toll of 13 dead and 13 wounded.
The US military has conducted at least seven air strikes on Fallujah over the past 40 days in which it said dozens of suspected loyalists of al-Qaeda terror operative Abu Mussab Al-Zarqawi were killed.
Zarqawi, who has a $25-million bounty on his head, is blamed for some of the bloodiest car bombings and attacks in Iraq. — Sapa-AFP
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