U.S. soldier dies of non-combat related causes north of Baghdad

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A U.S. soldier died from non-combat related causes in the city of Balad, Salah al-Din province, north of Baghdad, on Friday, the third to be announced dead today, according to a U.S. army statement. “A 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Soldier died here as a result of non-combat related causes May 8,” read the statement as received by IraqiNews.com news agency. The announced death raises to five the number of U.S. soldiers killed in May, two of them died in a small arms attack in a front combat position south of Mosul city by a man clad in a military uniform, according to a U.S. army release. Earlier today (May 9), the U.S. army said a soldier was killed in a vehicle accident in Baghdad on Saturday while the Pentagon announced the death of another soldier in a hospital in Germany of wounds he had sustained in Iraq. The death also bring to 4,287 the number of U.S. soldiers who have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. Nineteen soldiers were killed in April 2009. A total of 486 U.S. troops were killed in 2003, while 849 died in 2004. Other 846 troops were killed in 2005, and 822 soldiers in 2006. The year 2007 remains the year that saw the highest U.S. death toll with 904. November 2004, which witnessed fierce battles between U.S. forces and armed groups in Falluja city, Anbar province, remains the month that saw the highest U.S. death toll with 137. AmR (S)/SR 1