thedrifter
10-07-05, 08:09 AM
Six Marines Killed in Iraq Bomb Attacks
By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer 21 minutes ago
Roadside bombs hit U.S. patrols in western Iraq, killing six Marines who were part of operations that began a week ago to clear towns of insurgents prior to a crucial referendum on a new constitution, the military said Friday.
The American deaths raised to at least 1,950 the number of members of the U.S. military who have died since the beginning of the war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.
Four of the Marines were killed Thursday by a roadside bomb while Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was conducting combat operations near Karmah, 50 miles west of Baghdad, the military said.
Farther to the west, near the Syrian border, the other two Marines were killed Thursday by a roadside bomb near the town of Qaim, near the Syrian border, while on patrol during the U.S. "Iron Fist" offensive, the military said. They were with the Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).
"Iron Fist" and another offensive codenamed "River Gate" began earlier this month and involved thousands of U.S. forces and Iraqi troops to uproot insurgents from Qaim and several other towns in western Iraq before the Oct. 15 referendum.
The military also said Friday its offensive had killed 29 militants, including 20 who died when warplanes bombed an abandoned hotel they had commandeered.
Ellie
By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer 21 minutes ago
Roadside bombs hit U.S. patrols in western Iraq, killing six Marines who were part of operations that began a week ago to clear towns of insurgents prior to a crucial referendum on a new constitution, the military said Friday.
The American deaths raised to at least 1,950 the number of members of the U.S. military who have died since the beginning of the war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.
Four of the Marines were killed Thursday by a roadside bomb while Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was conducting combat operations near Karmah, 50 miles west of Baghdad, the military said.
Farther to the west, near the Syrian border, the other two Marines were killed Thursday by a roadside bomb near the town of Qaim, near the Syrian border, while on patrol during the U.S. "Iron Fist" offensive, the military said. They were with the Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).
"Iron Fist" and another offensive codenamed "River Gate" began earlier this month and involved thousands of U.S. forces and Iraqi troops to uproot insurgents from Qaim and several other towns in western Iraq before the Oct. 15 referendum.
The military also said Friday its offensive had killed 29 militants, including 20 who died when warplanes bombed an abandoned hotel they had commandeered.
Ellie