U.S. forces clash with gunmen in Iraq's Hilla
HILLA, Iraq, April 3 (Reuters) - U.S. forces called in helicopter strikes during a clash with gunmen on Thursday in the southern Iraqi city of Hilla, scene of fighting last week between security forces and Shi'ite militiamen.
Police sources in the Shi'ite city said five people had been killed in the predawn operation, including four policemen. They said fighting broke out after U.S. troops wearing civilian clothes entered the al-Jamiya district in central Hilla.
Sattar al-Jeshaami, spokesman for the main hospital in Hilla, said six bodies had been brought in after the clash, including four policemen. Around 15 people had been wounded, half of them civilians, he said.
The U.S. military said gunmen opened fire on U.S. troops who were on an operation to detain a so-called "special groups" member, the military's term for rogue elements in the Mehdi Army militia of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Lieutenant David Russell said ground forces were heading to the target area when they came under fire.
"Unknown individuals fired upon coalition forces, who returned fire in self-defence. A coalition force helicopter also engaged the unknown individuals," Russell said in an email in response to questions from Reuters.
One vehicle was destroyed, several buildings were damaged and three civilians were reported wounded, he said.
Hilla was one of several southern cities where security forces fought battles with Mehdi Army militiamen last week. U.S. special forces were operated with Iraqi units in the city and called in air strikes last week.
Hundreds of people were killed across Iraq in last week's fighting, which mostly ended when Sadr ordered his Mehdi Army fighters off the streets on Sunday. (Reporting by Aseel Kami; Writing by Dean Yates)
