Iraqi security forces killed 13 alleged insurgents during clashes today south of the Iraqi town of Baquba, which is northeast of Baghdad, the US military said.
Maj Neal O'Brien of the US 1st Infantry Division said Iraqi National Guardsmen and police killed the suspected insurgents after coming under fire as they assisted US forces in carrying out a raid near Buhriz, south of Baquba.
Residents in the area said militants attacked with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades after the US military conducted raids early today around Buhriz, the site of several recent battles between US-led forces and insurgents.
Mr Ahmed Fouad, a doctor at Baquba general hospital, said one Iraqi was killed and nine others wounded.
"The Iraqi National Guard and Iraqi police were providing security for 1st Infantry Division soldiers as they conducted a raid in farmland south of Buhriz," Maj O'Brien said.
"Iraqi security forces pursued the anti-Iraqi forces into the town while attacked by sporadic small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades," he said, adding that aircraft observers assisted.
Maj O'Brien said there were no casualties among Iraqi security forces or the US-led multinational forces.
Meanwhile, a translator working with US forces was also killed in Baquba on Sunday as she travelled to work, police and hospital sources said. Militants have often killed Iraqis for cooperating with US forces.