The total number of US military dead in the war in Iraq rose to 1,500 today as the military announced the latest death of one of its troops.
The killing occurred yesterday in Babil province, just south of Baghdad, when a soldier was killed in action "while conducting security and stability operations".
The province is in the area known as the "Triangle of Death" due to the frequency of insurgent attacks on US- and Iraqi-led forces
The latest death brought to at least 1,500 the number of members of the US military who have died since the war in Iraq began in March 2003, according to an Associated Presscount.
At least 1,140 died as a result of hostile action, according to the US Defence Department. The figures include four military civilians.
Since May 1st, 2003, when President George W. Bush declared that major combat operations in Iraq had ended, 1,362 US military members have been killed.
AP
