US forces struck back at Iraqi rebels hours after a suicide bomber blew up a truck packed with explosives to kill at least 26 people at an Italian base.
The attack yesterday in Nasiriyah was the deadliest against a US ally since the occupation began.
Within hours, the US struck back, destroying a warehouse in Baghdad and chasing attackers who were seen firing mortars.
The Nasiriyah attack came on the same day the chief US administrator for Iraq went to Washington to disciss transferring more authority to the Iraqis.
Italian Col Gianfranco Scalas said 18 Italians were killed: 12 Carabinieri paramilitary police, four soldiers, a civilian working at the base and a documentary filmmaker. Eight Iraqis also were killed, a spokesman for the US-led coalition said.
The blast wounded 79 people, 20 of them Italians, hospital sources and Italian officials said. There were fears of others trapped beneath the debris, and bulldozers worked to clear rubble. But as night fell soldiers said rescue efforts had ended.
PA