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US deaths in Iraq rose sharply in May US deaths in Iraq rise sharply in May
(about 1 hour later)
US forces in Iraq suffered their highest casualties last month than any month since September 2008.US forces in Iraq suffered their highest casualties last month than any month since September 2008.
May saw 22 US soldiers killed, bringing the total number of American casualties since the 2003 invasion of Iraq to just over 4,300. May saw 24 US soldiers killed, bringing the total number of US casualties since the 2003 invasion to just over 4,300.
All US forces are due to be off the streets of Iraq's cities and main towns by the end of this month. US forces are due to be off the streets of cities and main towns by the end of June, while combat operations across Iraq are due to end by September 2010.
Combat operations everywhere in the country are due to end by September next year. Civilian deaths from violence in Iraq fell sharply in May, according to Iraqi government figures.
The defence, interior and health ministries gave a civilian toll of 124, down from 355 in April, AFP reported.
US President Barack Obama has pledged to remove all US troops from Iraq, other than those involved in training, by the end of 2011.US President Barack Obama has pledged to remove all US troops from Iraq, other than those involved in training, by the end of 2011.
Although overall violence is sharply down on the levels of several years ago, the surge in US military deaths in May has left many here feeling uneasy about what will happen as the Americans begin their pullout, the BBC's Nicholas Witchell in Baghdad says.Although overall violence is sharply down on the levels of several years ago, the surge in US military deaths in May has left many here feeling uneasy about what will happen as the Americans begin their pullout, the BBC's Nicholas Witchell in Baghdad says.
But Iraq's leaders are confident and say Iraqi forces are now quite capable of handling internal security without US support, he says.But Iraq's leaders are confident and say Iraqi forces are now quite capable of handling internal security without US support, he says.
In September 2008, 25 US troops were killed - the highest recent toll for US forces.
The figures take into account both combat and non-combat deaths.