The US military launched airstrikes on the northeastern Iraqi city of Baquba where heavy fighting erupted early Thursday morning, a US senior spokesman said.

US aircraft attacked three houses near a sports complex with laser-guided missiles, said Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt.

"We did bring in a precision airstrike and we will probably have more (information) later this afternoon when we have a better idea of what's going on," Kimmitt told reporters.

Kimmitt said 30 to 40 fighters were involved in a firefight with coalition forces in and near Baquba at about 5:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) before the insurgents attacked a police station and possibly "one other government building".

He said the northern city of Mosul and Ramadi, west of Baghdad, had also been hit by attacks on Thursday.

"With the exception of what we are seeing in Baquba, things seem to be well under control right now," he said.

Many attacks were launched against the Iraqi National Guard compound in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and an agricultural center and possibly a small Iraqi police station in Ramadi were also targeted by insurgents.

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's group, called al-Tawhid wa al-Jihad (Unification and Holy War), claimed responsibility for Thursday's attacks, according to media reports.

Al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian militant thought to have ties to al-Qaida, has been blamed for a string of car bombs across Iraq.