US warplanes fired several missiles at targets in Fallujah on Sunday as marines pressed on with their search for insurgents still in the city, an AFP correspondent embedded with the military said. Two marines were killed over the weekend in Al-Anbar province, which is home to Fallujah, the military said, without specifying whether they died in the city.
The operations followed renewed fighting on Saturday in northern and southern Fallujah, which was devastated last month when US and Iraqi forces stormed the stronghold in a bid to wrest it from the insurgents.
Heavy gunfire was heard in northern Fallujah again on Sunday, the correspondent said, adding that large explosions could be seen a few kilometres away, briefly lighting up the sky as jets roared overhead.
"We're clearing up the last ones (insurgents). They're holed up in places," said Sergeant Ted Herald of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines.
Coalition troops killed hundreds of fighters during last month's assault, but have continued to face pockets of resistance as they clear the city.
Fighters remaining in the city "were biding their time. They are waiting for us to leave," Herald said.
Marines patrolling the city over the weekend seized some 70 assault rifles, as well as grenade launchers and other weapons, AFP correspondent said.
Most of Fallujah's 250,000 citizens fled the city before the November 8 assault.
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