Kufah (Iraq), June 27: One US soldier was killed and nine others wounded late last night in an attack on their unit here US military officer said today. The soldiers out on patrol with Iraqi police were attacked by gunmen, marine major Rick Hall said in the town, near the Iraqi Shiite holy city of Najaf, around 130 Kms south of Baghdad. The attack occurred at around 8:30 pm (2200 IST), he said.
"They were conducting a motorised patrol and the exact circumstances are still under investigation", he said.
"It is really unusual because the situation between Najaf and Kufah is usually quiet", Hall said.

US troops guarding the local government building in the flashpoint town of Fallujah came under rocket propelled grenade (RPG) attack overnight, local residents said.

There were no reports of any US casualties in the attack, at around 1:00 am (0230 IST) when an unknown number of attackers fired a single RPG at the US position, they said.

The US troops returned fire but apparently without hitting any of the attackers, who fled. The troops deployed throughout the town, backed by helicopters, and sealed off its main road in search of the attackers.

A US army spokesman said he was unable to confirm the attack, the second in three days.

US forces have recently increased their presence in the town, carrying out intensive searches in swathes of the region.

Bureau Report