Eight killed in US raid in Iraq

BAGHDAD - Eight people were killed and one person was injured during a military operation by Iraqi and US forces in the southern Iraqi city of Amara, the city’s governor said Friday.

Mohamed Shayaa added that 12 Iraqis were arrested during the raid, which took place in Ali al-Sharqi district, north of the capital city of Missan province.

“This operation took place without informing the local council in the city, and a special meeting was held to discuss its repercussions. A statement was made requesting the release of the detained and an investigation in this breach,” added Shayaa.

Interior Ministry spokesman Mohamed al-Askari said that the operation in Ali al-Sharqi was launched to pursue wanted people. He added that a fire exchange left seven killed and 12 detained.

“A committee was formed to know the repercussions of this incident,” added al-Askari.

Iraqi security forces arrested five suspected terrorists during two joint Iraqi-US operations in northern Iraq, the US forces in Iraq said in a statement Friday.

The operations were targeting two Al-Qaeda in Iraq explosives-cell leaders. Three suspects were arrested in Rashidiyah, some 8 kilometres northwest of Mosul, while two were detained in Baquba city, which lies 53 km northeast of Baghdad.