BAGHDAD, Dec 7: US forces blasted buildings in the restive Iraqi city of Ramadi with tank fire, killing 14 insurgents, the US military said on Thursday. A US soldier was killed and three others were wounded in the clashes, which erupted on Wednesday after American and Iraqi troops were attacked with machinegun fire from numerous insurgent positions, including a mosque.

“Coalition forces used tank main gun rounds and precision-guided ordnance to destroy buildings from which insurgents were attacking in Ramadi,” a statement said.

It said the buildings were destroyed but that the mosque was not hit. No civilian casualties were reported, it said.

“When insurgents create situations such as occurred on Wednesday, Coalition forces must defend themselves,” the statement quoted coalition spokesman Marine Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Salas as saying.

“While we are mindful to limit damage, we must respond with necessary and proportional force to protect our forces and Iraq from the insurgents.”

Ramadi is the capital of western Anbar province, heartland of the anti-American Sunni insurgency. Clashes between US and Iraqi forces and insurgents are common in Ramadi and in other areas of Anbar, the most dangerous region in Iraq.—Reuters