BAGHDAD — A U.S. Air Force gunship strafed Shiite extremists who attacked U.S. soldiers in Baghdad today, and the military said it killed at least nine militants in recent clashes in the capital.

Iraqi health officials today said that 41 people, including women and children, have been wounded since Sunday in the militia stronghold of Sadr City, where U.S. and Iraqi forces are battling the followers of radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

The military confirmed today that two Iraqi civilians were wounded in a Hellfire missile attack late Sunday in Baghdad’s southwestern Aamel neighborhood and were evacuated to a military hospital.

Clashes erupted before noon today in the militia stronghold of Shula and heavy gunfire could be heard. Apache attack helicopters could be seen circling the center of Shula and U.S. armored vehicles blocked entrances into the neighborhood.

Earlier today, U.S. soldiers called for air support after coming under fire from a rocket propelled grenade and small arms in Kazimiyah district. More than an hour later, one militant was killed with rounds from an AC-130 gunship, the military said.

The AC-130, a lethal tool used by the military since the Vietnam War, can slowly circle over a target for long periods.

Human rights groups have criticized their use in urban settings where militants may be among crowded populations of noncombatants. The four-engine gunships were also used to support the U.S. attack that took the western city of Fallujah from insurgents in November 2004.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have accused militants of using civilians as human shields during street battles that started more than six weeks ago following a government vow to crack down on the militias.