US combat casualties in Iraq were approximately 79 percent less than the same month last year. There were seven reported deaths in October 2008. They took place in the Maysan, Ninawa, Salahuddin and Diyala Provinces. There were none in Baghdad. In contrast, there were 33 combat casualties in October 2007. 18 of these deaths were in Baghdad.
July 2008 saw the all-time historic low in total casualties and combat deaths since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. There were five combat casualties in that month.
Over the past several weeks, non-combat casualties have been running even with combat casualties. US Army soldiers no more likely to die from combat than from vehicle crashes, helicopter crashes, illness, or other non-combat events.
Two combat deaths resulted when Army vehicles hit improvised explosive devices (IED) in the Maysan province. Military experts see the IED as the Iraqi terrorists’ first choice weapon, and October saw the lowest number of IED related casualties for the entire year.
The rest of the combat deaths in October were the result of gunfire. THE US Defense Department also reported the combat related deaths of two soldiers who were previously listed as missing in action as of July 2008.
US combat casualties in Iraq were approximately 79 percent less than the same month last year. There were seven reported deaths in October 2008. They took place in the Maysan, Ninawa, Salahuddin and Diyala Provinces. There were none in Baghdad. In contrast, there were 33 combat casualties in October 2007. 18 of these deaths were in Baghdad.
July 2008 saw the all-time historic low in total casualties and combat deaths since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. There were five combat casualties in that month.
Over the past several weeks, non-combat casualties have been running even with combat casualties. US Army soldiers no more likely to die from combat than from vehicle crashes, helicopter crashes, illness, or other non-combat events.
Two combat deaths resulted when Army vehicles hit improvised explosive devices (IED) in the Maysan province. Military experts see the IED as the Iraqi terrorists’ first choice weapon, and October saw the lowest number of IED related casualties for the entire year.
The rest of the combat deaths in October were the result of gunfire. THE US Defense Department also reported the combat related deaths of two soldiers who were previously listed as missing in action as of July 2008.
