http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2005/20050831_2578.htmlFour Soldiers Killed, Four Wounded in Five Days
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2005 – Four U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq in the past several days, U.S. officials there reported today.
A Task Force Liberty soldier was killed and three were wounded when an improvised explosive device detonated on their combat patrol southeast of Samarra at about 12:35 p.m. today.
A soldier assigned to 155th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was killed in action Aug. 30th when he was struck by an improvised explosive device near Iskandariyah.
A Task Force Freedom soldier died Aug. 29 when the helicopter he was riding in made a forced landing near Tal Afar due to enemy fire. A soldier was also wounded during the crash.
On Aug. 27, a Task Force Freedom soldier died when he was struck by enemy fire while on dismounted patrol near Tal Afar.
The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
In other news from Iraq, Task Force Baghdad helicopter crews fired on terrorists who were firing rockets and mortars that landed near a mosque in the Khadamiyah area of Baghdad this morning. The insurgent attacks caused multiple civilian casualties hear the al-Katham mosque.
As the helicopter gunships fire on the attackers, coalition ground units sped to the area to assist in tracking down the terrorists. Coalition forces found evidence of a tube used for launching rockets and arrested more than a dozen suspected insurgents.
In a more massive attack on insurgents, U.S. Marines launched precision air strikes on several terrorist positions during the past five days. All of the coalition strikes were directed against terrorist safe havens, which were confirmed to have armed al Qaeda members. Officials said destroying the positions reduces threats against coalition forces operating in the area.
Additionally, coalition forces in Husaybah have confirmed that local Iraqis in that region are fighting against Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian terrorist leader, in western Anbar province. Husaybah is reportedly a run-down, sprawling border town of 120,000 that's in the throes of a violent insurgency with combatants promising to deliver the Americans to an early grave, U.S. officials said.
Officials said local sources in the area have reported terrorists killing unarmed male Iraqis who oppose their organization and ideology. Reports further indicate that terrorists have been trying to exert influence and control over the border region. This control would allow them a greater ability to move foreign fighters and weapons across the Iraqi-Syrian border.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Task Force Baghdad news releases.)
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