U.S. and Iraqi troops have carried out airstrikes in the Euphrates River Valley, killing 37 insurgents.
The U.S. military says coalition air strikes hit five targets in a small western town near the Syrian border. Officials say 25 insurgents were captured.
Monday's airstrikes were part of Operation Steel Curtain, which began last week to stem the flow of insurgents and supplies from across the border, ahead of next month's parliamentary elections.
In central Baghdad, authorities say two South African security guards were killed in a car bomb explosion near the heavily fortified Green Zone, where the headquarters of the Iraqi government, U.S. forces and most foreign missions are located. Three others were wounded. Separately in the western town of Ramadi, police say a roadside bomb exploded shortly after a US convoy passed, killing five people and wounding at least 20 others.
Some information for this story provided by AFP and AP.
