For the first time in six months, American warplanes were dropping ordnance over Iraq Sunday. The Air Force says a flight of F-16s dropped at least three 500-pound bombs on targets in the town, which is inside the so-called "Sunni Triangle," a hotbed of Iraqi resistance.

It's the same area where 16 American soldiers died after their CH-47 Chinook helicopter was apparently downed by shoulder-fired missiles more than a week ago. 

The Pentagon says the strikes on Sunday were in response to an attack on American soldiers in the area, but gave no further details. Two Iraqis were reportedly wounded in the raids, which witnesses on the ground say came without warning.

"We used to have hopes of the Americans after they removed Saddam,'' said Khatoun Jawal, in his dirt-poor home on the edge of town.

"We had liked them until this weekend. Why did they drop bombs near us and hurt and terrify my children like this?''

American warplanes also staged raids against targets in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown.

"We are going to maintain a very offensive stance and take the enemy out whenever we can,'' said Lieutenant Colonel Steve Russell, commander of a U.S. battalion in Tikrit.

FMI: www.af.mil