Iraqis Say U.S. Air Strike Destroys House in Falluja

[Barrett808]

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - A U.S. air strike destroyed a building in the Iraqi city of Falluja late on Thursday after a gunbattle between insurgents and U.S. Marines on the edge of the city, residents said.

There was no immediate word on casualties.

A U.S. military spokesman said Iraqi security forces and U.S. Marines had clashed with insurgents and had called in an air strike on a target in an industrial area in eastern Falluja.

"The operation is still ongoing," the spokesman said, adding that it was too early to assess casualties in the clash.

Several times over the past few months, U.S. forces have targeted buildings in the city that they say were being used by militants linked to al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

After fierce clashes in Falluja in April that killed hundreds of Iraqis, U.S. forces withdrew from the city and handed over security to an Iraqi force. Critics say the city has become a safe haven for guerrillas and kidnappers.

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