The US military says it has killed 30 militants after an air strike in Sadr city yesterday. The military claims that every victim murdered was a terrorist with links to Iran. 12 suspected terrorists were detained.

The raid was carried out as Iraqi and US soldiers were searching for members of a network that American commanders accuse of bringing weapons and explosives in from Iran, and sending fighters from Iraq to Iran for training.

The US military said: “During the course of the operation, the assault force and the overhead aerial support observed a vehicle and large group of armed men on foot attempting an assault on the ground forces.

“Responding appropriately to the threat of the organized terrorist force, close air support was called and engaged the terrorist vehicle and organized terrorist force, killing an estimated 30 terrorists.”

Earlier, on Tuesday, the US military announced the deaths of four more US soldiers in Iraq, raising the US death toll for the first six days of the month to 21.

A British serviceman has also been killed in southern Iraq, the ministry of defense said on Wednesday.

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