Hospital officials in Iraq say that at least 47 people were killed in this morning's air strikes by US warplanes near Iraq's border with Syria.
Sources say missiles struck two houses in the town of Qaim, and one unconfirmed report says the death toll could approach almost 60.
Earlier, the US military said a key al-Qaeda operative and several of his associates were killed in the attacks.
The Americans named the operative as Abu Islam.
