BAGHDAD, Sept 13: The US military apologised on Saturday for a shooting incident in the city of Fallujah the previous day in which nine Iraqi security personnel and a Jordanian hospital guard were killed.

“The senior military leadership of the coalition has been in contact with the Jordanian military and Iraqi authorities to express our deep regrets and apologies,” said a statement read by Lieutenant-Colonel George Krivo.

“We wish to express our deep regrets for this incident to the families who have lost loved ones,” said Mr Krivo, the coalition’s chief military spokesman. He said a senior-level investigation had been launched.

Mr Krivo said a US patrol operating near the Jordanian hospital became embroiled in a three-hour firefight with “unknown forces” in the flashpoint Sunni town, 50 kilometres west of Baghdad.

“Regrettably during the incident, extensive damage was done to the hospital and security personnel were killed, including eight Iraqis and one Jordanian national,” his statement said.—AFP