By Xinhua
Tikrit (Iraq) : Six people were killed when suspected Al Qaeda gunmen attacked two houses in a rural area in Iraq’s northern province of Salahudin early Saturday, police said.
“Gunmen, allegedly affiliated to Al Qaeda, attacked two houses outside the town of Duluiyah, 90 km north of Baghdad, killing a total six people,” it said.
The attackers stormed the house of Saadoun Ahmed Meshlib, killing him and his three sons, while another group of gunmen attacked the house of Ziyad Ibrahim Khalil, killing him and his son before fleeing.
In a separate incident, two Al Qaeda fighters were killed in the province Friday when Iraqi security forces raided the al-Milih area, east of Samarra city, 120 km north of Baghdad.
The incident came as the US and Iraqi troops are conducting a major offensive dubbed “Operation Phantom Phoenix” against Al Qaeda militants in Iraq.