US troops 'kill 26' in Baghdad

US troops say that have killed 26 militants during fierce fighting in the Sadr City district of Baghdad.

American forces staged two separate raids into the area targeting militants suspected of close ties to "Iranian terror networks" and who were responsible for bringing Iranian weapons into Iraq, US military said in a statement.

The statement added that US soldiers faced "significant" resistance during the pre-dawn raids, including roadside bomb attacks as well as fire from rocket-propelled grenades and light weapons. However, there were no US casualties.

Residents said helicopters fired missiles at targets in the densely-populated area. The military said armoured vehicles fired on four cars and 17 militants were detained in the raids.

Sadr City is the stronghold of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who has called for US forces to leave Iraq.

Washington blames elements of Sadr's powerful Mehdi Army militia of using technologically advanced roadside bombs, which are made from components smuggled in from Iran to target US troops.

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