Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, April 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. aircraft launched an airstrike on militia positions in downtown Diwaniyah City in south of Baghdad on Saturday, while Iraqi security forces continued clashes with militiamen for a second straight day.

    "Iraqi Army and Coalition forces as part of Operation Black Eagle used a strategic air strike to defend against illegally armed militiamen using shoulder-fired rocket propelled grenades," the military said in a statement.

    Fixed wing aircraft conducted the airstrike after the Iraqi army "made positive identification of the militiamen" before calling for the air strike, it said.

    In a separate statement, the military said during the first day, 27 suspected insurgents were detained in the combined operation headed by Iraqi Army troops supported by soldiers and paratroopers from Multi-National forces.

    "Fighting was steady throughout the first day," the statement quoted U.S. military spokesman Maj. Eric Verzola as saying.

    Verzola said three anti-Iraqi forces were killed and six others wounded during the operation, whereas two Iraqi soldiers and one coalition soldier were wounded.

    During the operation, the troops found a facility where insurgents assemble explosively formed projectiles (EFPs) and sophisticated armored-piercing bombs, besides seizing different kinds of other weapons, the statement said.

    Previously, the U.S. military accused neighboring Iran of providing Iraqi Shiite militants with weapons and parts for EFPs.