'Missile explosion' kills five American service members in Baghdad

'Missile explosion' kills five American service members in Baghdad

2011-06-06 17:16:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

BAGHDAD (BNO NEWS) -- Five American service members were killed in an 'incident' at a military camp in Baghdad on Monday morning, the U.S. military said, providing no other details.

A brief statement from U.S. Forces - Iraq confirmed the deaths. "Five U.S. service members were killed Monday in central Iraq," the statement said, adding that the names of the deceased and details of the incident are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Earlier, a correspondent for Al Arabiya said a missile had exploded at a military camp in the Iraqi capital. The channel gave no other details and the U.S. military did not confirm the nature of the incident.

"I can confirm an incident has occurred, but I have no further details at this time," Staff Sergeant Elvis Umanzor, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Iraq, said earlier when asked about the reported missile explosion.

According to the U.S. military, a total of 29 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq this year, Monday's incident being the deadliest. A total of 60 U.S. service members were killed in Iraq last year, most of whom died as a result of non-hostile incidents.

Less than 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, eight years since the U.S.-led war began March 20, 2003. According to a security agreement between Baghdad and Washington, all U.S. forces will be withdrawn by the end of 2011.

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