BAGHDAD – A Sunni group opposed to al-Qaeda in Iraq said yesterday that it was temporarily withdrawing from its alliance with the U.S. military in protest of an airstrike that it said killed three of its members.
It was the latest claim of a mistaken killing of civilians or U.S.-allied fighters by U.S. forces. The cases have raised concern about future Sunni cooperation with U.S. forces, which the Pentagon credits as vital to the sharp drop in violence in recent months throughout Iraq.
The North Babil Awakening Council said Friday that a U.S. helicopter strafed one of its checkpoints, killing three members in the village of Jurf al-Sakr, about 35 miles south of Baghdad.
Local officials said the airstrike occurred after guards at the post mistook a U.S. foot patrol for insurgents because U.S. soldiers had not been expected in the area.
The U.S. military said attack helicopters fired rockets at a structure after small-arms fire was directed at U.S. troops.
Sheik Sabah al-Janabi, head of the North Babil Awakening Council, said his fighters would cease patrols and stop operating checkpoints for three days to protest the killings. He called for an apology and compensation for the victims' relatives.
U.S. forces have killed 19 of the council's fighters and wounded 12 others in the past 45 days, including the three who died Friday, Al-Janabi said. “After each incident, the U.S. forces claim that it occurred by mistake,” al-Janabi said.
The incidents occurred after air and ground assaults were stepped up last month against al-Qaeda in Iraq.
