| Update: this story says the 11 deaders were 'Iranian-backed Special Groups'. |
(KUNA) -- Coalition forces killed an estimated 11 terrorists during operations targeting special groups of criminal networks early Thursday in Al-Kut, the Multi-National Force said.
In a statement, the MNF said coalition forces were targeting "a 'special groups' criminal element member reportedly responsible for attacks against coalition forces and supporters of coalition forces. The individual was also reportedly an associate of criminal element leaders involved in attacks on coalition forces." It added that when coalition forces approached the target area, they were engaged by terrorists with direct enemy fire from assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades. "Responding in self-defense, coalition forces returned fire, and called for supporting aircraft to engage. The ground force assessed that approximately 11 terrorists were killed during the engagement. No suspects were captured or detained during the operation," it added.
Meanwhile, a Kut police source told KUNA that the armed confrontations took place in the city's Jihad district, but said that only eight people were killed, not 11 as was sighted by the MNF statement.
On its part, the Sadrist Office described the incident as a "heinous crime, " adding that those killed were members of the Sadrist movement and did not belong to "special groups" as the MNF had claimed.
| I'd point this incident out to the Sunnis in Iraq as evidence that we're happy to kill any group of bloodthirsty extremists, no matter how they pray. |
|