4 U.S. troops killed, 5 injured in Baghdad

[Seraphim]

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040604/040604_sadrattack_hmed_7a.hmedium.jpg
U.S. soldiers stand over an unidentified covered body lying on the ground after an attack by unknown gunmen on a U.S. Army patrol near Sadr City, Baghdad, on Friday.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5057770/

[Luxembourger]

RIP

and the death toll keeps on increasing :( :( it really hurts to see this :( :(

[American Patriot]

RIP

[American Patriot]

As always, may the offending fuks die a slow horrible death.


Residents said anti-Iraqi fighters had fired a rocket-propelled grenade at an armoured vehicle, forcing it to come to a halt before a roadside bomb exploded.

Looks like things are heating up.

[MARINO]

RIP :(

[Freibier]

R.I.P :(

[ShotOver]

Rest in Peace

May the lord almighty welcome their souls into heaven, for eternal happiness, and may he strike down the evil that caused the pain.

[mack pl]

RIP :(

[FDF_Hemppis]

http://img49.photobucket.com/albums/v151/Hemppis/muut/smiley_salute.gif

[Skullknight]

I expect a strong offensive to start over the next 2 weeks, climaxing during the last week of June. In July it will continue and shift to assassinating leaders and killing hundreds of ICDC soldiers and police officers.

[American Patriot]

I expect a strong offensive to start over the next 2 weeks, climaxing during the last week of June. In July it will continue and shift to assassinating leaders and killing hundreds of ICDC soldiers and police officers.

I don't think so, Annie.

[Damian]

RIP

[Damian]

RIP

>>>Sorry double post

[Seraphim]

Update...5soldiers KIA now.



Five soldiers killed in attack as death toll exceeds 600

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The death toll of US troops killed in action in Iraq (news - web sites) exceeded 600 as five US soldiers were killed in an attack on their convoy on the edge of Baghdad's radical Shiite bastion of Sadr City.



The attack, which witnesses said involved a rocket-propelled grenade and a bomb, was launched on the convoy just hours after clashes broke out between troops and militiamen in the same neighbourhood.


"Four soldiers were killed and five wounded in an explosion on their convoy in Baghdad at around 1:10 pm (0910 GMT)," a military spokesman told AFP, adding that the nature of the device used was under investigation.


That brought the number of US soldiers killed in action in Iraq to 600 but the military announced later that a fifth soldier had died in the attack.


Witnesses had told AFP on the scene earlier that several soldiers had probably been killed in the attack against the vehicles on a highway running along the edge of the densely-populated slum.


According to the US military, 601 of its soldiers have now been killed in action since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. Of those, 490 have died in action after US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) declared major combat in Iraq over on May 1.


"Every single one of these is sad. Every single one is unnecessary," a coalition military spokesman said.


"There is a growing determination that no death or injury is going to deter us from completing the mission," he added.


Witnesses said attackers fired a rocket-propelled grenade at one of the first vehicles and the convoy was rocked by a roadside bomb after it ground to a halt -- a now familiar pattern of attack on US patrols.


A burnt-out Humvee smouldered, letting off plumes of black smoke as military medics tended wounded soldiers and at least two military ambulances could be seen.


The army closed off the area while troops backed by tanks fired down side-streets to prevent jubilant groups of local youngsters from approaching.


Other witnesses said a television cameraman was wounded in the leg when soldiers fired warning shots to ward off a crowd.


The mayhem was a replay of earlier scenes in Iraq as angry crowds celebrated the blood of US soldiers spilled and jittery soldiers fired in the air.


At least one local resident who lives no more than 20 yards (metres) from the site of the bomb attack was seriously wounded by the explosion, his father Abdullah Zeidan said, his jalabiya stained with his son's blood.


That too was a sad commentary on the last year as insurgents' attacks on US soldiers have killed scores of Iraqi civilians.


At least 10,000 Iraqis are thought to have died since the US military invaded Iraq in March 2003 to oust Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).


In Sadr City, a district of around two million people that is home to supporters of Shiite fundamentalist cleric Moqtada Sadr, US troops have found themselves up against a different enemy to the one it has faced for most of the year-long occupation.





The coalition has mainly battled an unholy alliance of a rag-tag resistance from the Sunni Muslim community who ruled the country until the fall of Saddam and foreign fighters, but they now face violence from the Shiite majority.

Since April, the military has suppressed an uprising by Sadr who commands a wide following among the country's Shiite urban poor, complicating America's definition of the enemy in the post-Saddam landscape.

US officials expect more soldiers will lose their lives as they see no immediate end to the bloodshed, even with the planned handover of sovereignty to Iraq's new government on June 30.

[seruriermarshal]

Sad message

REGIMENTAL PRAYER

Almighty, merciful, and loving Father,
you are the one who hears all our prayers and grants our petitions.

We ask you to remember, as we do,
the tremendous sacrifice made by those who went before us.
They have given their lives so that we might live and breathe freely.
We ask you to receive them into your hands.

Father, give us the strength and wisdom to learn from their example,
to uphold freedom and life at home and around the world.

Keep us vigilant as we guard the frontiers of freedom.

Give our leaders the wisdom and the strength to lead well.

Grant all of us courage and confidence.
Be, for all of us, troopers, a wise counsel in keeping peace
and a strong shield for us against our enemies.
Oh heavenly Father, give us the determination
that the peace and freedom won at such a high price be lasting!

Father, hold all of the troopers in the palm of your almighty hand
and protect them in the shadow of your wings.

Amen.

[Pooga]

Man… :(


Nah, let em die as quick as possible. Gives em less time to hurt folks. Those people dead 2 seconds quicker is 2 seconds more the world is better.

[SwissGrenadier]

RIP :(

[seruriermarshal]

Again I ask, why are they driving Humvee's in dangerous areas and getting soldiers killed when they could be driving these and saving lives?


Surely it's not so they can look "less military" when patrolling civilian streets. It better not be.


Why they aren't use M113 or M2 ?

[seruriermarshal]

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040604/i/r3556433457.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040604/i/r2170556168.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040604/i/r3634749161.jpg

[Seraphim]

Im speachless...

[American Patriot]

I dunno, they have to patrol or they will lose ground. Sadr city is a crazy place. I hope there will be a U.S. offensive in these areas soon. :(

[seruriermarshal]

I dunno, they have to patrol or they will lose ground. Sadr city is a crazy place. I hope there will be a U.S. offensive in these areas soon. :(

No , my friend , allies have once offensive , in Fallujah ...... But it's a bad offensive , Now , I hope soldier use heavy weapon , M1 , M2 or M113 in these areas , use UAV reconnaissance .

[garoco]

RIP :(

[Pooga]

That's horrible.

[Spearin]

RIP

This is war people, it is unfortunate that your own soldiers must die, but it happens. Maybe there isn't enough resources to patrol with heavier vehicles, so HMMVW's must be used (wild guess). Or, the Insurgents are smart and are attacking them wherever they appear. These fighters are probably smarter than you think/expect.

Skullknight made a good point that may end up being true. There could be increased attacks by the Insurgents just as the June 30th deadline comes around. We'll just have to see. In war like this it can be predictable, but at the same time extremely unpredictable.

[mattnwnc03]

these are the first known pics of dead u.s. soldiers, it may shock us but for our guys , its not the first. r.i.p. godbless

[gbos]

Why they aren't use M113 or M2 ?

The best defense against an ambush is to be aware of it. What makes you think that you are safer in a M113? In this case awareness goes down the drain and in exchange you take a deceiving sense of security from a metal can surrounding you.

RIP to the soldiers.