IED, Small-Arms Fire Claim Five Soldiers' Lives in Iraq

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2005 – An improvised explosive device blast killed four U.S. soldiers Aug. 9 near Bayji, Iraq, as their patrol was investigating reported explosions in the area.

The patrol came under small-arms fire after the explosion. Five Task Force Liberty soldiers and one U.S. contractor were injured in the attack.

Also on Aug. 9, a soldier assigned to the 2nd U.S. Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was killed by small-arms fire near Habbaniyah, Iraq. Several U.S. Army units are attached to the 2nd MEF (Forward) during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)