Iraq attack kills '15 civilians'

Up to 19 insurgents and 15 civilians have been killed in air strikes in an operation north of Baghdad.

The operation was targeted at senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

"We regret that civilians were hurt or killed while coalition forces search to rid Iraq of terrorism," said Major Brad Leighton, a spokesman for US forces in Iraq.

"These terrorists chose to deliberately place innocent Iraqi women and children in danger by their actions and presence."

The US military said aircraft attacked a site in the Lake Thar Thar region, about 120 km (75 miles) north of Baghdad, after intelligence reports indicated senior al Qaeda members were meeting there. Four insurgents were killed.

It said suspects from the initial meeting then moved to another area south of Lake Thar Thar and US forces came under small arms fire from a building.

"Responding in self-defence, supporting aircraft engaged the enemy threat. After securing the area, the ground force assessed 15 terrorists, six women and nine children were killed, two suspects, one woman and three children were wounded, and one suspected terrorist was detained," the US military said.

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