U.S. Troops in Karbala Battle Paramilitaries

U.S. troops battled street-to-street with paramilitary fighters in the central Iraqi city of Karbala in a fierce assault aimed at protecting supply lines.

U.S. officers said the American troops had killed about 75 Fedayeen Saddam paramilitary fighters and said six or seven U.S. soldiers had been wounded.

The Iraqi fighters took up positions on rooftops in the narrow streets, firing rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. U.S. planes unleashed laser-guided bombs, artillery and heavy arms fire before soldiers dug in for the night.