<p>EAST BANK OF THE EUPHRATES RIVER, Iraq — Capt. Clay Lyle's voice on the radio gave no hint of the violence that was about to erupt.</p>
<p>"We're in contact," Lyle said calmly.</p>
<p>The fighting began at 8:30 p.m. Monday local time (12:30 p.m. ET Monday) when about 200 Iraqi troops ambushed the 500-vehicle convoy at night along the western bank of the Euphrates.</p>
