1st U.S. fatality in Feb. 2009

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A U.S. serviceman died of injuries sustained from non-combat related incident in Diala province, the first U.S. fatality this month, the U.S. army said on Saturday. “A U.S. Soldier died as a result of a non-combat related injury near Balad Ruz, Iraq, Feb. 6,” read a U.S. army statement received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and release by the Department of Defense,” the statement noted. The deaths raise the number of U.S. fatalities in 2009 to 17, and bring the number of U.S. soldiers who have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003 to 4,238. 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. 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. SS (P) 1