First US casualties reported in Iraq offensive
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-07 15:05

U.S. and Iraqi troops battled insurgents house-to-house on Monday in the third day of a major offensive against al-Qaida insurgents in a town near the Syrian border, and the first American fatality was reported in the fighting.

The U.S. commander of the joint force, Col. Stephen W. Davis, told The Associated Press late Sunday that his troops had moved "about halfway" through Husaybah, a market town along the Euphrates River about 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad.

At least 36 insurgents have been killed since the assault began Saturday and about 200 men have been detained, Davis said. He did not give a breakdown of nationalities of the detainees. Many were expected to be from a pro-insurgent Iraqi tribe.

The New York Times, which had a journalist embedded with the American forces, reported Monday that one U.S. Marine was killed and three were wounded the day before. In Baghdad, the U.S. military said it could not immediately confirm that, but it often delays the release of casualty information until relatives of the victims are notified.

CNN, which also had a reporter accompanying the offensive, said at least one Iraqi soldier has been wounded and that as many as 80 insurgents have died in the fighting.

In a live report from the scene Monday morning, CNN said the house-to-house battles were continuing, with ground forces supported by Humvees and tanks working their way through the narrow streets of the bleak desert town with U.S. jets and helicopters flying overhead.

Scores of terrified Iraqis fled a besieged town on Sunday, waving white flags and hauling their belongings.

The U.S. military also announced Monday that it had killed two regional al-Qaida in Iraq leaders operating in the Husaybah area during air strikes that destroyed several insurgent "safe houses" on October 31 near the towns of Karabilah and Obeidi.