BAGHDAD, June 11: US forces launched an air strike on Iraqi insurgents near the Syrian border in the restive western province of Al-Anbar on Saturday, killing about 40 rebels, a military statement said. US marines backed by jet fighters and helicopter gunships launched the attack on several large groups of heavily armed insurgents who had set up checkpoints and were stopping civilian traffic near Karabilah.

No marines were hurt in the assault, it said.

“The insurgents set up a barricade on a main road to the city and were threatening Iraqi civilians,” the statement said.

US forces launched the first of seven precision-guided air strikes at 11:40 am (0740 GMT) and no civilian casualties or collateral damage were reported.

The air strikes ended at around 4:00 pm (1200 GMT) “once all the targets were destroyed” including an insurgent compound. US forces in May conducted a week-long sweep in and around Karabilah, Ramana and Ubaydi.—AFP