FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) – A U.S. air strike aimed at foreign militants led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi killed 11 people in the Iraqi city of Falluja Friday and insurgents later said a British hostage held by Zarqawi’s group had been beheaded.
The U.S. military said a “precision strike” hit a house where Zarqawi associates were meeting in the northwest of the guerrilla-held city at 1:15 a.m.
Residents and local doctors said 17 people were also wounded in the attack, among them nine women and children. They said a wedding party had been held in the house Thursday night. The bridegroom was killed and the bride was wounded in the raid.
Reuters television footage showed four women lying bloodied and bandaged at the local hospital.
“We were celebrating my cousin’s wedding and my relatives gathered in this house for the wedding,” said one of them, Suad Mohammed, 26. “The wedding ended at 10 p.m., but some people gathered outside the house and the bombing began.
Allawi is quoted in this article and he calls for those who are committing acts of violence against the Iraqi people to lay down their arms and join the political process.
When exactly will the United States be doing this? The Green Zone has been infiltrated and Is Kirkuk About to Explode?