Iraq Mosques Attacked As Troop Offensive Continues

An Iraqi woman mourns a relative killed in the bomb attack (AFP) June 20, 2007 -- Suspected Shi'ite militants have blown up two Sunni mosques south of Baghdad, causing heavy damage but no casualties.

The bombings in Al-Haswah and Al-Hillah were apparently in revenge for a suicide attack on June 19 that killed 87 people and badly damaged an important Shi'ite mosque in Baghdad.

Thousands of U.S. and Iraqi troops, meanwhile, pressed forward on the second day of an operation aimed at clearing an insurgent stronghold northeast of Baghdad.

The U.S. military said at least 30 Al-Qaeda fighters were killed and several bombs and weapons caches destroyed in Ba'qubah.

(compiled from agency reports)