US warplanes struck an alleged hide-out where operatives from an al Qaida-linked group had gathered today killing at least 20 people.

US warplanes pounded a suspected hideout of al-Qaida-linked militants in the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Fallujah today, killing at least 20 people and wounding 29.

US warplanes and artillery units bombed the Sunni militant stronghold of Fallujah today, killing at least nine people and wounding 12 others, hospital officials and witnesses said.