KIRKUK, Iraq - US soldiers killed an Iraqi couple and wounded their eight-year-old daughter during a raid against suspects near the northern city of Kirkuk on Saturday, police and the US military said.
The incident took place at 2 am (2300 GMT on Friday) when troops burst into the home of Hussein Ali, a police source said.
They killed him and his wife, and wounded the child, according to a neighbour in Hawijah village, west of Kirkuk.
A US army spokesman confirmed the casualties, saying the raid was a combined operation with Iraqi security forces in Haqijah.
"When coalition and Iraqi forces were clearing the building, they entered a room and saw the woman reaching under a mattress," he said.
"The force repeatedly gave instructions in Arabic for the woman to show her hand, but she failed to comply. Perceiving hostile intent, forces engaged and killed her," he said, adding that a pistol was later found under the mattress.
"A male in the room then physically attacked members of the ground force. Acting in self-defence, forces engaged and killed the man, who was later identified as the wanted terrorist.
"One child was also injured in the incident and treated by coalition forces," the spokesman said, without giving details of how she was wounded.
Blair blasts Britons over Iraq war