U.S. Troops Clash With Insurgents in Baqouba
Friday, June 18, 2004
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BAQOUBA, Iraq — Insurgents clashed with U.S. forces near this city northeast of Baghdad (search) on Friday for the second time in as many days, U.S. military officials said.
A U.S. Army 1st Infantry (search) patrol came under fire at about 7:45 a.m. in the town of Buhriz (search), near Baqouba, 35 miles north of Baghdad. Troops returned fire, killing two of the insurgents, a military official said on condition of anonymity.
Baqouba (search), a largely Sunni Muslim (search) area that formed a core of support for Saddam Hussein's former regime, has been the scene of frequent clashes between coalition forces and insurgents. The area stretches to the north and west of Baghdad, and is part of the northern Diala province.
On Thursday, another 1st Infantry patrol came under attack in the same area. There were no U.S. casualties resulting from either attack.
Military officials said seven insurgents had been killed in the two days of skirmishes, but officials at Baqouba General Hospital said five people had died and 15 were injured.
However, insurgents often do not bring wounded fighters to the hospital out of fear of arrest by U.S. soldiers.
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