US strikes on suspected Qaeda meeting kill 18

US forces conduct air and ground strikes against a suspected meeting of Al-Qaeda militants south of Baghdad, killing 18 of them.

US forces conducted air and ground strikes against a suspected meeting of Al-Qaeda militants south of Baghdad on Monday, killing 18 of them, the military said.

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"Coalition forces conducted air strikes on a known Al-Qaeda meeting location south of Baghdad that killed 15 terrorists," the military said.

"Later in the operation, ground forces killed three terrorists loading a vehicle carrying an anti-aircraft weapon."

Seven other suspected militants believed responsible for kidnappings or helping to bring in foreign fighters were detained, the military added.

The raid also uncovered several weapons caches and a second anti-aircraft gun.

Another individual was detained in a separate raid north of Baghdad, near Taji.