US military aircraft launched late Thursday an air strike on a southern neighborhood of Iraq's flashpoint city of Fallujah , local residents said.

The air strike destroyed a building in Fallujah without noting any casualties, the residents said.

"It was an air strike on a house" and "I heard a very powerful explosion around 10:30 PM (18:30 GMT) coming from the Shuhada neighborhood (in Fallujah)," said a resident.

Earlier, US troops had battled with guerrillas on the eastern edge of the city, it was reported.

US forces have targeted buildings in Fallujah over the past few months, saying the houses were being used by militants linked to al-Qaida ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

In April, US troops had to withdraw from Fallujah after fierce clashes that killed hundreds of Iraqis.

(People's Daily July 30, 2004)