US Killing civilians in Sadr City

American-led forces say they have killed 26 militants in a series of raids in the Sadr City area of Baghdad.

Troops had also detained 17 militants in the pre-dawn raid on the area, a Shia stronghold, the US military said.

But Iraqi hospital and police officials put the death toll at eight and said civilians were killed in their homes, the Associated Press (AP) reports.

The raids are the latest in a series of US offensives against militants accused of smuggling weapons from Iran.

'Significant' resistance

"It is believed that the suspected terrorists have close ties to Iranian terror networks," a statement from the US military said.

... One resident said US attack helicopters had launched missiles at targets in the densely-populated district, home to more than two million people, Reuters reports.

"At about 0400, a big American convoy with tanks came and began to open fire on houses - bombing them," Basheer Ahmed, who lives in Sadr City's Habibiya area, was quoted by AP as saying.

"What did we do? We didn't even retaliate - there was no resistance." Link