Nearly 4,000 US Soldiers Killed in Iraq
As the War in Iraq moves into its sixth year, the most recently-available death statistics detail how, since 2003, nearly 4,000 members of the US armed forces have lost their lives whilst serving there.
The latest death occurred on the 18th March, when a US soldier lost his life north of Iraq’s capital, Baghdad.
3,991 US Military Personnel Killed in Iraq
In all, 3,991 US military personnel have been killed in Iraq. Over 29,000 more have received injuries, according to figures published by news agency AFP, and using information gathered from an independent website as their basis.
Of these 3,991 deaths, at least 97 per cent occurred following President Bush’s assertion on May 1st, 2003, that “major combat” in Iraq was finished.
The majority were caused by roadside bombs, while many more were due to small arms fire.
Other reasons for these deaths have included vehicle explosions, rocket attacks, ambushes and helicopter crashes.
Of the past five years, last year was, statistically, the most lethal, with 901 soldiers killed in all.
The other years, together with their related death-count, we tabulate below:
- 2003 – 486 US soldiers killed
- 2004 – 849 US soldiers killed
- 2005 – 846 US soldiers killed
- 2006 – 822 US soldiers killed
Geographically speaking, the vast majority of soldiers were killed in four provinces. Again, these, we list below:
- Anbar – 1,282 US soldiers killed
- Baghdad – 1,247 US soldiers killed
- Salaheddin – 375 US soldiers killed
- Diyala – 237 US soldiers killed
In Anbar, US forces have been working alongside localised Sunni Arabs in recent times, resulting in a drop in the number of attacks that have taken place.
137 US Troops Killed in November 2004
The website quoted by AFP, www.icasualties.org, cited November 2004 as the bloodiest month, when 137 US troops were killed.
Meanwhile, according to another website, www.iraqbodycount.org, up to 89,000 civilians in Iraq have lost their lives to the violence since 2003.
Speaking yesterday, US President George W. Bush said that "removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision", and stated that the War was one that “we can and must win”.
Source – Armed Forces International’s US Correspondent
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