(KUNA) -- Armed clashes have resumed in Sadr City, stronghold of the Sadrist movement in Baghdad, between Iraqi and US forces on one side and militants on the other. A security source told KUNA that the clashes erupted very early this morning and that mortar shells and light weaponry was used. The source did not reveal whether casualties were suffered on either side, however, a medical source said the bodies of four Iraqi civilians were found and more than 20 wounded others were admitted at Imam Al-Hospital.Meanwhile, a Multi-National Force (MNF) statement said today, "Terrorists launched 12 combined mortar and rocket attacks into Multi-National Division - Baghdad's operational environment beginning at approximately 6:00 a.m. (local time) on March 25." The statement said that among the multiple attacks were 107 mm rockets fired toward Baghdad's International Zone, 81 mm mortars fired at Forward Operating Base Falcon, 107 mm rockets fired at Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah, 60 mm mortars fired at Joint Security Station Thawra 1, and 60 mm mortars fired at Joint Security Station SUJ. The attacks resulted in limited civilian injuries and minor damage to buildings and vehicles."
| This comes at a time when Iraqi government forces had apparently taken control of many districts in the southern city of Basra after fighting that broke out yesterday after regulars launched a mop-up operation to clear it of militiamen. |
In Tikrit, local residents told KUNA that US helicopters shelled Qadisiya residential area in the city at around 2:30 a.m. (local time), adding that a number of houses collapsed. The residents added that four people were killed, including a judge, and 11 others were wounded, among then five women and children. The US forces surrounded the area and prevented even the Iraqi police forces from entering, they added.
This comes at a time when Iraqi government forces had apparently taken control of many districts in the southern city of Basra after fighting that broke out yesterday after regulars launched a mop-up operation to clear it of militiamen.