Six US soldiers killed in Iraq

2005-11-17 15:00

Baghdad - On Wednesday, five US marines were killed near the Syrian border and an army soldier died of wounds suffered in Baghdad, making it the second deadliest day for American forces in Iraq this month.

The soldier, from the army's Task Force Baghdad, died on Wednesday of wounds suffered the previous day, when a roadside bomb exploded northwest of the capital, the US command said. Three other soldiers were killed on Tuesday in a roadside bombing in the same area. It was unclear if the soldier who died on Wednesday was injured in the same attack.

The six deaths made Wednesday the deadliest day for American forces in Iraq since November 2, when seven service members died in four separate attacks. At least 51 US service members have already died in Iraq this month.

For the marines, it was the worst single-day loss since they launched an offensive November 5 to push al-Qaeda-led insurgents from a series of towns along the Euphrates River used by foreign fighters to slip into the country from Syria.

A marine statement did not give any details of the Wednesday losses, and names of the victims were withheld pending notification of their families.

Marines were 'ambushed'

A New York Times reporter travelling with US forces said an explosion occurred as a squad entered a farm house in Obeidi, 298 kilometres northwest of Baghdad. Insurgents then racked survivors and rescuers with small arms and grenade fire before other Marines could recover the dead and wounded and kill the attackers, the newspaper said.

Eleven marines were wounded in the ambush, according to the Times reporter.

The marine statement confirmed the five deaths but made no mention of wounded. The military also said 16 insurgents were confirmed killed in the fighting.

The latest deaths brought to at least 2 079 the number of US service members who have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

- AP