The U.S. military says an American air strike has destroyed a house in the southern city of Basra, killing one militant.

Witnesses said at least three civilians were killed and three others wounded in the Wednesday attack.  The U.S. military has not confirmed any civilian casualties.

The area was the scene of recent deadly clashes between Iraqi security forces and Shi'ite militias loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Meanwhile, a suicide bomber killed five people and wounded 19 in an attack Wednesday at an Iraqi checkpoint near the northern city of Mosul.

Also Wednesday, a roadside bomb exploded near a convoy carrying Iraqi generals in  Basra.  There were no casualties in the blast.

Despite recent violence in Baghdad and Basra, the top U.S. military commander, Admiral Mike Mullen, said Wednesday, plans are still on track to continue withdrawing American troops from Iraq through the end of July.

The U.S. military also says Iraq may buy nearly $600 million in military equipment this year - more than three times the level of equipment purchased in 2007 through the U.S.-run foreign military sales program.