Fewer US Military Deaths in Iraq in July 2008
Deaths among members of the US military deployed in Iraq have been fewer this month, lining up July 2008 as the lowest one for fatalities since US forces invaded the country over five years ago.
Between July 1st and 30th, five US soldiers lost their lives while engaged in combat roles in Iraq – 61 less than in July 2007, online independent resource icasualties.org has said.
Security in Iraq
Such a scenario highlights how security in Iraq has improved significantly during the intervening months.
The reduced violence has been attributed to a number of factors including the President Bush-ordered US troop “surge” and the (al-Sadr-led) Mehdi Army’s ceasefire.
According to icasualties.org, 23 US soldiers were killed in Iraq in June in deaths related to actual combat while, in May, there were 15.
The full July 2008 casualty figure is nine, but this takes into account four US military deaths that were unconnected to hostilities.
By the same token, full casualty figures for June/ May were 29 and 19, respectively.
US Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, however, the situation has been quite different, with more US soldiers deployed there having been killed last month and the month before, than in Iraq.
The total number of US forces deployed in Iraq is presently 144,000 and, in Afghanistan, 36,000.
Over the past five-and-a-bit years, approximately 4,120 US troops have been killed in Iraq, compared to 561 in Afghanistan since 2001.
Obama, McCain on Iraq, Afghanistan
The conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq loom large in the election campaigns of the two prime candidates vying to become the next US President.
Democrat Barack Obama favours concentrating on Afghanistan more than at present, and has said, if elected, he will pull US forces from Iraq within a 16 month timeframe.
Republican John McCain has also highlighted the need for additional military manpower in Afghanistan.
Source – Armed Forces International’s US Correspondent
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