Fallujah, Oct 22, SPA -- U.S. Marines clashed with severalgroups of insurgents on the outskirts of the rebel bastionof Fallujah and launched air strikes at rebel targets,the U.S. command said Friday. Around sundown Thursday, rebels fired small arms,rocket-propelled grenades and mortars at U.S. forces, whohit back with ground fire and air strikes. Hospital officials in Fallujah reported that eight peoplewere killed and two wounded in the fighting. The U.S.command said it had no information on "anti-Iraq forces"killed. On Friday, the military said that "combat operations"have not begun and American forces have not entered thecity. Coalition forces are still conducting "securityoperations," the military said.--SPA1311 Local Time 1011 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/212569