Military

Two Soldiers, Marine Killed in Iraq Operations

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2005 - Two U.S. soldiers and a U.S. Marine were killed Feb. 26 in Iraq, Multinational Force Iraq officials reported.

Two Task Force Baghdad soldiers died and two others were wounded after a combined improvised explosive device and small-arms attack in southeast Baghdad. A Marine assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was killed in action while conducting security and stability operations in Babil province. Officials provided no further details on the incidents or on the condition of the injured soldiers. Names are being withheld until families are notified.

A suicide bomber was killed in a failed attack on a Task Force Baghdad M1A1 Abrams tank around 9 a.m. Feb. 26. Two Iraqi citizens were killed and multiple others wounded when the terrorist attacked in north Baghdad, officials said. The bomber drove alongside the tank and detonated, causing minimal damage to the tank.

Iraqi police and Task Force Liberty soldiers detained four Iraqis after responding to a report of an explosion from the Tikrit Joint Coordination Center at about 8:30 p.m. Feb. 25. One terrorist died of his wounds, and one was hospitalized due to the explosion, which the police investigation determined to be an IED that detonated inside an abandoned house. Both men were wanted by police as suspects in previous attacks on coalition forces, officials said. Another IED was found in the building. Two other men associated with the incident are in police custody.

In Afghanistan, coalition forces in recovered two weapons caches Feb. 26. The first, in Paktya province, contained six rocket-propelled grenades and three RPK machine guns. An Afghan citizen reported the second cache to coalition forces in Kunar province. It contained 1,825 7.62 mm rounds, an RPG launcher, 37 RPGs, a machine gun and an anti-aircraft gun. Coalition forces secured both caches.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news releases.)

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2005/n02272005_2005022701.html