CNN REPORTS: US "REGRETS" KILLING TWO IRAQI CHILDREN

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. military "sincerely regrets" that it killed two children in a helicopter attack on militants linked to a suspected al Qaeda in Iraq leader, a colonel with Multi-National Force-Iraq said Thursday.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/05/22/iraq.main/index.html

The U.S. military is investigating the operation against insurgents in northern Iraq's Salaheddin province, just south of Baiji, it said in a statement Thursday.

An American chopper struck cars near a farm late Wednesday, killing eight people, including two children, Baiji police said. The U.S. military said the children were in a vehicle with militants.
The operation targeted al Qaeda in Iraq militants operating a weapons storage facility, Multi-National Force-Iraq said in its statement.

The militants "were believed to be associated with a suicide bombing network," the military said.
"Sensitive intelligence further indicated that these individuals were directly associated with a suspected senior [al Qaeda in Iraq] foreign terrorist facilitator," the military said. "Unfortunately, two children were killed when the other occupants of the vehicle, in which they were riding, exhibited hostile intent."

The military "sincerely regrets when any innocent civilians are injured that result from terrorists locating themselves in and around them. We take every precaution to protect innocent civilians and engage only hostile threats," MNF-I spokesman Col. Jerry O'Hara said.