US warplanes strike terrorist hideout in western Iraq

US warplanes bombarded on Thursday a hideout used by al-Qaida terrorists in western Iraq on the Syrian border, the US military said.

The air strike took place in the Husaybah area at 1:11 a.m. (2111 GMT on Wednesday) and targeted a safe house used by Abu Muhammad, believed to be head of an insurgent cell known as manufacturing bombs, the military said in a statement.

Abu Muhammed is also known for his direct ties with Abu Islam, the emir of al-Qaida in Husaybah who was killed in a US air strike last week, the statement said.

The US military said they used special munition in the attack to avoid civilian casualties.

On Sept. 1, the US warplanes pounded a train station used by insurgents as a hideout in the same town near the Syrian border.

US Marines have launched several offensives against insurgents in the cluster of small towns scattered near the Syrian border, known by the US military as a smuggling route for foreign fighters.

Source: Xinhua