U.S.-backed Iraqi troops raid Sadr City cell

[ECH1969]

U.S.-backed Iraqi special forces raided a target in the Shi'ite slum district of Sadr City in Baghdad on Friday, returning to an area where recent raids have sparked tensions with Washington over cracking down on militias.

The U.S. military said special Iraqi Army forces with coalition advisers detained three suspects during the raid on "an illegal armed group murder and kidnapping cell". Sadr City is the main stronghold in Baghdad of the Mehdi Army, blamed by Sunni Muslims and Washington for operating sectarian death squads.

"Iraqi forces received small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from hostile elements during departure from the objective," the U.S. statement said. "Iraqi forces returned fire at clearly identified targets to neutralize the threat and continued their return to base."

A police source in Sadr City said there had been clashes during the raids and several buildings were damaged.

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