Authorities in Iraq say unidentified gunmen have killed a Sunni Arab tribal chief, three of his sons and a close relative.
Police say the gunmen, dressed in Iraqi army uniforms and driving army-type vehicles, broke into the home of the Batta tribal chief (Sheikh Khadim Sarhid) on the outskirts of Baghdad early Wednesday.
Elsewhere, the U.S. military says American and Iraqi forces began a new operation in the western city of Ramadi Tuesday.
It is the third offensive against insurgents in the area over the past seven days.
The military said earlier that U.S. and Iraqi forces have concluded a 17-day counter-insurgency offensive (Operation Steel Curtain) near the Syrian border. That operation marked the first large-scale deployment of the new Iraqi Army in the restive al-Anbar province, west of Baghdad.
The military said 10 U.S. Marines and 139 terrorists were killed during the operation that was aimed at establishing a permanent Iraqi Army security presence in the region and improving conditions before December 15 elections.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
