Feb. 4 (Bloomberg) -- U.S.-led forces killed nine Iraqi civilians, including a child, in an operation against suspected al-Qaeda militants south of Baghdad, the American military said.

Three civilians, two of them children, were wounded and taken to U.S. hospitals, the military said in an e-mailed statement. The incident took place on Feb. 2, at al- Iskandiriyah, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the capital.

``Shortly after the incident, Coalition Forces leaders met with a sheikh representing the citizens of the local area,'' the military said. ``The incident is under investigation.''

Baghdad suffered one of the worst attacks in six months when at least 53 people died in two bomb attacks on popular markets on Feb. 1. U.S. forces have been targeting al-Qaeda militants who have been squeezed into northern provinces, particularly Ninewah and its capital, Mosul.

Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, said in a Feb. 1 interview with the Associated Press, that, though al-Qaeda has been damaged, it remains a resilient and determined enemy.

To contact the reporter on this story: Camilla Hall in London at chall24@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: February 4, 2008 04:17 EST