Air strike in Fallujah kills almost 20

An air strike was launched Monday in the city of Fallufah aiming a safehouse probably used by Al-Zarqawi's network, the military said. At least 10 people were killed, officials and witnesses said.

Ambulances sped to the eastern side of the city, where U.S. air strikes have frequently targeted safehouses used by members of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's network. Rescue workers picked up remains of the dead, witnesses said.

Four 225-kilogram bombs and two 450-kilogram bombs were dropped, the military said.

It said the operation employed precision weapons and underscored the resolve of coalition and Iraqi forces "to jointly destroy terrorist networks within Iraq."

US forces have hit the area with four air strikes since June 19, killing dozens. Al-Zarqawi a Jordanian militant said to be connected to al-Qaida, is believed to be behind a series of co-ordinated attacks on police and security forces that killed 100 people only days before US forces handed over power to an Iraqi interim government.

Al-Zarkawi is also believed to be behind the beheading of two hostages, American Nicholas Berg and South Korean Kim Sun-il. US authorities have increased to 25 million dollars the reward for information leading to his arrest, more than doubling the previous offer.