Things are heating up in Baghdad and Basra.
In Baghdad, a U.S. helicopter fired a Hellfire missile during fighting in a Shiite militia stronghold in Baghdad on Friday. At least four were killed in the strike.
Hellfire missiles are used in urban areas because the relatively small warhead reduces the risk of civilian casualties.
In Basra, the US conducted airstrikes overnight to support Iraqi troops battling Shiite militias.
