27/05/2003

Two US troops die in Iraq firefight

Two US troops have been killed today and a further seven injured after a Coalition patrol was fired on near Baghdad.

So far the US has confirmed one US military death from this morning's firefight near Fallujah.

The US claimed that the attackers opened fire with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire from a mosque – which is a violation of the law of war.

The US soldiers returned fire and two Iraqis were killed and another six were captured.

Coalition Central Command (CENTCOM) also reported that a soldier drowned yesterday after diving into an aqueduct located south of the Iraqi town of Kirkuk.

It was also reported that a second American soldier was killed yesterday and three injured when a Humvee apparently ran over a land mine or unexploded ordnance. In a separate incident on the same day, CENTCOM reported that a collision between a US forces' Humvee and a tractor-trailer killed one American soldier and injured two.

In addition, a US military convoy was attacked May 26 near Hadithah, about 120 miles northwest of Baghdad. One American soldier was killed and another was wounded during the attack.

Coalition Central Command reported that their troops had conducted 18 raids and more than 2,000 patrols during the past 24 hours, including 201 patrols with Iraqi police.

(GMcG)

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