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Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2004

International

International

Fighting rages in Iraq

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, DEC. 13. Seven American troops have been killed in Iraq's western Anbar province as fighting continues to rage in the resistance strongholds, exactly a year after the capture of the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein.

While the U.S. military command did not give details today, the forces are engaged in heavy combat in Ramadi, headquarters of the Anbar province. Fighting is also continuing in Falluja.

In yet another indication that American forces were yet to establish full control of Falluja, fighter jets dropped 10 "precision guided" bombs on Sunday. The raids were called in after the 700 to 800 men that the U.S. troops had brought in to clear rubble came under fire, eyewitnesses said. The operation has displaced nearly 250,000 residents, who have taken shelter as refugees mainly on the outskirts or in Baghdad, 50 km away. The Iraqi Red Crescent Society has estimated that nearly 6,000 persons in the city have died due to the fighting.

The U.S. casualties on Sunday were the highest during a single day since the Falluja operation began. The Marines previously reported that one soldier had died in the province, but it was not clear whether this was included in the list of seven fatalities. If included, it would bring the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq to 1,290 since the invasion 21 months ago. Around 10,000 American soldiers have been wounded and more than 70 were killed when they stormed Falluja on November 8.

A car bomb exploded outside Baghdad's "green zone." An estimated seven persons were killed and 15 wounded in the morning blast.

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