Attack on GIs Kills Nine, Wounds 20

(NEWSER) - It was an unusually bloody day for US troops abroad today, as eight soldiers were killed—four in Iraq and four in Afghanistan. It was the deadliest day for the US in Iraq since troops left the cities earlier this year, reports the BBC. Three soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in northern Iraq, while another was killed in Baghdad. A bomb also struck the northern town of Amirili, killing a local police chief. More»

He turned on them during joint patrol; 3 others wounded

(NEWSER) - An Iraqi insurgent who joined the country’s military force shot and killed two American troops, the BBC reports. Three other US soldiers were injured in the Dec. 26 shooting, which happened during a joint patrol in northern Iraq. After the patrol was besieged by gunmen, the Iraqi soldier “abused” the situation and fired at the Americans, an Iraqi general said. More»

Al Qaeda suspected in Baquba bombing

(NEWSER) - A suicide bomber rode a bicycle into an Iraqi police compound in Baquba today, killing 28 officers and wounding 20 others, including a woman and a child, in the bloodiest attack on security forces in months. Authorities suspect al Qaeda, which has vowed increased attacks on security forces and Sunni tribal leaders who have allied themselves with the US, Reuters reports. More»

Record number of fatalitles linked to EFP attacks

(NEWSER) - A sophisticated bomb that the US military has tracked to Iran was used in a record number of attacks on American-led troops last month, the New York Times reports. The bombs—called explosively formed penetrators—fire a semi-molten copper slug that can break through the armor of a Humvee. They were responsible for 99 strikes and a third of the 69 combat fatalities in July, according to the military. More»

5 soldiers dead after roadside bomb explosion; death toll hits 3,545

(NEWSER) - Fourteen American troops have been killed in Iraq over the past 2 days, bringing the US death toll to 3,545, with 68 fatalities in June. In the deadliest recent attack, five troops died today after a roadside bomb detonated under their vehicle in northeastern Iraq. Commanders attribute the worsening situation in part to increased anti-insurgent efforts, the Washington Post reports. More»