U.S. army says soldier dies in non-combat incident

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A U.S. Marine died in a non-combat incident in a military base in Haditha city, the U.S. army in Iraq said. “A Marine of the Multi-National Force – West (MNF-W) died of non-combat causes at al-Assad (Lion) base in Haditha, (250 km) west of Baghdad,” according to a U.S. army statement received by IraqiNews.com on Tuesday. The statement did not give more information. The death brings to 10 the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq in October and to 4186 the fatalities since the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Twenty-five soldiers were killed in September, including nine of non-combat related causes, while 23 were killed in August 2008. Thirteen U.S. troops were announced dead in July, the month with the lowest U.S. deaths. Forty were killed in January, 29 in February, 38 in March and 52 in April. November 2004, which witnessed fierce battles between U.S. forces and armed groups in Falluja city, Anbar province, remains the month that witnessed the highest U.S. death toll, 137, followed by April 2004 with 135 and May 2007 during which 126 U.S. soldiers were killed. AmR (S) 1