BAGHDAD (AFP) — Three US soldiers were killed when they were attacked with small arms fire while conducting operations in northern Iraq, the American military announced on Wednesday. Two other soldiers were wounded in the attack, which occurred in Salaheddin province on Tuesday, a military statement said.
US commanders announced on Tuesday the launch of a joint US-Iraqi assault against Al-Qaeda in Iraq, codenamed Operation Phantom Phoenix.
The location of the operation was not identified, but US commanders say Al-Qaeda fighters have shifted to northern Iraq, especially Diyala, Salaheddin and Nineveh provinces, after being chased out of Baghdad by a "surge" of American forces.
The latest deaths bring the total number of American soldiers killed since the 2003 US-led invasion to 3,915, according to an AFP tally based on independent website www.icasualties.org figures.