US forces killed two Iraqis and destroyed a building in Baghdad late this evening in an operation against guerrillas suspected of carrying out attacks on American military, a US military spokesman said.
The sound of explosions and gunfire echoed across the Iraqi capital after dark as US forces launched attacks on suspected insurgents and their hideouts.
A spokesman for the 1st Armored Division said a building in al-Sadia in south Baghdad used by guerrillas "to meet and plan operations" was destroyed by an AC-130 gunship, a Hercules aircraft modified for attack.
Capt David Gercken said the attack on the building was part of "Operation Iron Hammer", launched today to root out anti-American attackers.
He said a second operation was launched in western Baghdad near Abu Ghraib prison when assailants fired mortars at US forces from a van. He said US soldiers tracked guerrillas in armoured vehicles and in Apache attack helicopters.
The van was destroyed and two Iraqis were killed, three were wounded and five captured, Capt Gercken said.
"The van stopped at several locations along the way. At the first location we found an 80 mm mortar launcher," he said. He said US forces were continuing to search the area.