Meanwhile

Over there.

BAGHDAD — U.S. aircraft supporting an Iraqi government offensive against Shiite Muslim militias bombed suspected militia positions south of Baghdad amid intense fighting Wednesday in parts of the Iraqi capital and in the southern port city of Basra, Iraqi police said.

Spokesman Muthanna Ahmed of the Babil province police said 60 people had been hit but that he couldn't give a breakdown of dead and wounded. The U.S. military was looking into the report but couldn't confirm it Wednesday evening.