Posted on 08/22/2003 11:13:37 AM PDT by PatrioticCowboy
2 More US Soldiers Die in Iraq
VOA News 22 Aug 2003, 08:34 UTC
The U.S. military in Iraq says two American soldiers have died in separate incidents - one in Baghdad and the other south of the capital. A U.S. Army spokeswomen said a member of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was killed in an attack near the town of Hilla Thursday.
She also said a soldier from the 1st Armored Division died from smoke inhalation after being caught in a fire that injured six other troops at a small shooting range in Baghdad. U.S. authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze.
Sixty-five American troops have been killed in hostile action in Iraq since May 1, when President Bush announced that major military operations in Iraq was over.
Thursday, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, General John Abizaid, said terrorism is the top security threat in the country. He said remnants of the Baathist regime, members of an al-Qaida-linked Iraqi group and foreign fighters might be cooperating in some areas.
This week, a truck bomb ripped through the United Nations' headquarters in Baghdad. A U.N. statement said Tuesday's attack left at least 22 people dead and more than 100 others wounded. It said one person who was believed to have died in the blast was later found to be alive. U.S. officials say investigators are looking into the possibility that Iraqi security guards might have helped the plotters of the apparent suicide bombing.
A previously unknown group, calling itself the Armed Vanguards of Mohammed's Second Army, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.
Onward the Good!
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