Four U.S. soldiers died in Iraq

Four more American soldiers were killed in assorted violence in Iraq on Sunday, the U.S. military said, bringing the death toll of American troops in Iraq this month to 85.

Two American soldiers died at approximately 11:25 a.m. on Sunday after terrorists attacked their patrol with small-arms fire west of Baghdad, the military said.

A U.S. soldier died at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Sunday after his patrol struck a roadside bomb in eastern Baghdad, according to a separate statement.

About half an hour later, the fourth was killed when his patrol was attacked by small-arms fire southwest of Baghdad, the military said.

The latest fatalities raised the U.S. troops' death toll in Iraq this month to 85, making October probably the deadliest month for U.S. forces since January 2005.

American commanders have attributed the death toll rise to a surge in violence during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan and more U.S. operations in Baghdad in a bid to curb rampant sectarian violence.

Since the U.S.-led war in Iraq broke out in March 2003, a total of 2798 U.S. soldier have died in Iraq, according to Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, an independent Web site that tracks military deaths based on military news releases and media reports.

Source: Xinhua