Seven US troops killed by roadside bombs

Seven US troops were killed by roadside bombs in Iraq today, including four in a single strike north-west of Baghdad, the military said.

The four Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers died and an Iraqi interpreter was wounded when an explosion struck their vehicle during combat operations north-west of the capital, according to a statement.

A Multi-National Corps – Iraq airman also died of wounds suffered in a roadside bombing near the airman’s vehicle in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown 80 miles north of Baghdad, the military said.

Two US soldiers were killed and three were wounded today when their unit was struck by a roadside bomb, then came under small-arms fire in Baghdad, the military said in an earlier statement.

The attack that killed the two Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers occurred in eastern Baghdad, a predominantly Shiite area that has some Sunni enclaves. The military said the unit has conducted numerous operations against roadside bomb networks in the past month.

A Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldier also died from a non-battle related cause today, the military said. The incident was under investigation.

Identities of the soldiers were not released pending notification of relatives.

The deaths raised to at least 3,555 members of the US military have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.