Troops kill al-Qaida militants and child

BAGHDAD, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- A coalition forces' offensive targeting a suspected al-Qaida operations front in Iraq resulted in the deaths of four alleged terrorists and a child.

Officials say intelligence led troops to a suspected al-Qaida networking operation north of Baiji, Iraq. Coalition forces reported seeing several individuals maneuvering during the raid resulting in a call for aircraft support. Coalition officials say two suspects were killed during the air attack.

As the operation continued, a suspicious vehicle failed to comply with coalition forces' instructions to decelerate and rapidly approached a road block. Troops fired warning shots without any reported effect. Ground forces then opened fire at the approaching vehicle killing both men.

"Upon inspecting the vehicle, troops discovered a child inside who had been wounded during the engagement. Coalition forces administered immediate medical care before transferring the child to a military medical facility, where the child later died," the release said.

"We regret that civilians are hurt or killed while coalition forces work diligently to rid this country of the terrorist networks that threaten the security of Iraq and our forces," Navy Cmdr. Ed Buclatin, a Multi-National Force Iraq spokesman, said in a statement.