Tonight, Reuters reports that five more soldiers were killed by Iraqi militia in Kerbala. Reuters had already reported on the deaths of 16 U.S. soldiers on Saturday:
The U.S. military announced the deaths of 16 soldiers, including 13 killed on Saturday when a helicopter went down northeast of Baghdad.That brings today's death toll to 21.
UPDATE via Reuters:
U.S. forces had one of their costliest days in Iraq on Saturday when 21 troops were killed, including 13 in a helicopter and five in a clash in a Shi'ite holy city the U.S. military said was triggered by militiamen.
The battle at a government building in Kerbala was the bloodiest for U.S. troops in the Shi'ite south in two years and occurred as President George W. Bush presses leaders of the Shi'ite majority to crack down on militias from their community.
Hours after reporting three deaths in separate incidents and the loss of all 13 passengers and crew aboard a Blackhawk transport helicopter, the U.S. military said five soldiers were killed and three wounded in the Kerbala clash.
