MOSUL -FALLUJAH: Nine Iraqi soldiers were killed on Wednesday and six people wounded, including five soldiers, when a roadside bomb destroyed a bus west of the volatile northern city of Mosul, police and army sources said.
The soldiers were off-duty and on their way to spend leisure time at their homes, said a police source in Mosul, considered al Qaeda in Iraq’s last urban stronghold, and an army source in the joint coordination office of Nineveh province.
Insurgents have launched steady attacks on Iraqi police and troops in recent weeks, while the U.S. military formally ended combat operations in August, 7-1/2 years after the invasion to oust Saddam Hussein.
On the other hand, at least seven civilians and two Iraqi soldiers were killed on Wednesday when shooting erupted after a joint US-Iraqi raid in the Sunni Arab former rebel bastion of Fallujah, Iraqi officials said.
A US military spokesman confirmed an "incident" had occurred in the city, west of Baghdad, and added that an investigation would be started, but declined to give further details. He confirmed at least one fatality.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday morning in the Jbeil neighborhood of central Fallujah, long a base for Sunni fighters who waged an insurgency against US troops and the Iraqi government that peaked in 2006 and 2007.
"A joint force from Baghdad was ordered to raid a terrorist’s house in Jbeil," said Major General Baha Hussein al-Karkhi, police chief for Anbar province, of which Fallujah is part.
"Clashes took place when the terrorists fired at the troops. Civilians were caught in the crossfire. Seven were killed and four wounded.
"In addition to the seven (civilians) killed, two Iraqi soldiers were also killed in the clashes."
Fallujah police chief Brigadier General Faisal al-Essawi said five houses were raided.
He said eight civilians were killed, including two women and two children.
He said the other four included a former colonel in the Iraqi army during the rule of now executed dictator Saddam Hussein.
Fallujah media Chief Mohammed Fathi also said eight people were killed.
Dr Omar al-Delli at Fallujah hospital said four bodies had so far been received. Essawi said four other bodies had been taken away by the forces who conducted the raids.
US army Major Bryan Woods said an "incident" had occurred in Fallujah on Wednesday morning, and added "there was a report of a fatality" and that an investigation would be started. He did not give any more details.
US forces declared a conclusion to combat operations in Iraq at the end of August but nearly 50,000 soldiers remain in the country with a mission to train Iraqi soldiers and police, and conduct joint counter-terror operations.
