Iraq, US officials: Raid on arms smugglers near Iran border leaves 5 people dead

Raid on arms smugglers in Iraq kills 5 villagers

BAGHDAD — At least five people were killed Friday in an Iraqi-U.S. raid on a village near the Iranian border that targeted suspected weapons smugglers, officials said.

The exact death toll from the morning shootout was not immediately clear. The U.S. military said five militants were killed, while police and government officials from Maysan province in southeast Iraq said as many as 10 civilians died.

U.S. and Iraqi forces said they came under fire as they approached the village of Ali al-Sharqi, about 160 miles (265 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad. The troops were searching for weapons allegedly smuggled across the border by suspected Iranian-backed Kateb Hezbollah fighters.

“The troops were fired on by wanted persons, forcing troops to return fire and kill seven people,” said Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari, a spokesman for the Minister of Defense.

Maysan councilman Maytham Lafta said at least 10 “innocent people” were killed — including two women — and five others were wounded. A provincial police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information, also said 10 people were killed.

Conflicting casualty counts are common in the chaotic aftermath of attacks in Iraq.

Security forces detained 12 people believed to be members of Kateb Hezbollah were detained in the raid on suspicion of smuggling and stockpiling Iranian-made weapons, according to a U.S. military statement.

Also Friday, a bombing killed at least six Shiite pilgrims in Kufa, 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Baghdad, said Dr. Radwan al-Kindi, the director of the Najaf medical center. Forty people were wounded, he said.