Ten U.S. Marines were killed on Thursday by a roadside bomb just outside the Iraqi city of Fallujah. According to U.S. military sources, 11 other Marines were injured in the blast, which was caused by an “improvised explosive device.” The Marines killed were part of Regimental Combat Team 8 of the 2nd Marine Division, part of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. The identity of those killed has been withheld pending notification of their families.
The deaths come just one day after President Bush attempted to rally waning public support for the war in Iraq. Bush’s plan was essentially unchanged and consisted of “staying the course” until Iraqi government forces were able to maintain security on their own.
In a statement, the military said that Marines “continue to conduct counterinsurgency operations throughout Fallujah and surrounding areas to provide a secure environment for the national elections, December 15.”
The elections are an important part of the plan to “stabilize” Iraq according to the Bush administration. Approximately 160,000 American troops remain in Iraq at this time. A small number of those soldiers are expected to leave the country shortly after the elections.
Thus far, 2, 125 American military personnel have been killed in the fighting in Iraq and almost 16,000 have been wounded.
This incident represents one of the deadliest single attacks against American soldiers since the war began.
