Civilian deaths in Iraq air strike probed by U.S.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces are investigating an air strike in southern Iraq this week which local police said killed five women and four children, a U.S. military statement said on Thursday.

The U.S. attack took place on Tuesday in the village of Bahbahani, about 60 km (40 miles) south of Baghdad.

A military spokeswoman said on Wednesday there had been two strikes targeting buildings "pointed out by locals in Bahbahani as al Qaeda in Iraq safe houses".

Asked then about civilian casualties reported by local police, the spokeswoman said the U.S. military had no reports that civilians were killed.

Thursday's statement said U.S. forces were "investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of nine civilians".

It said U.S. forces had "conducted operations in the area using ground and air assets prior to the discovery of the bodies".

"Structures in the area have historically been found to be used as safe houses for al Qaeda," the statement said. U.S. forces had found bomb-making materials nearby including wire, batteries and timers, it added.

Bahbahani is near the town of Mussayab, south of Baghdad, where U.S. forces have carried out several recent raids against Iraqi insurgents.