US forces hit back in city battles

US forces today regained control of a southern Iraqi city seized this week by a rebellious Shiite militia and resumed their offensive in Fallujah after a brief halt for talks.

US troops fanned out across Kut after meeting little resistance in a major foray by the American military into the south, where US allies have struggled to deal with the uprising by the al-Mahdi Army, led by a radical Shiite cleric.