An American soldier has been killed and four companions wounded in an attack near Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.
It is at least the seventh US soldier killed in attacks in Iraq over the past two weeks.
According to a brief statement released by US Central Command in Qatar, gunmen opened fire on the troops using small arms and a rocket-propelled grenade.
The injured troops were evacuated by helicopter and ambulance to medical facilities in the area, the statement said.
The names of the soldiers and their unit have been withheld to allow notification of relatives.
Tikrit remains a sensitive area as American forces try to keep a fragile peace in post-war Iraq. It is located about 190 kilometres (120 miles) north of Baghdad.
