U.S. military deaths declined in the Iraq war for a fifth straight month in March even as insurgent attacks continue unabated with Iraqis increasingly the targets.
There have been 2,327 U.S. military deaths in the war, and another 17,381 troops have been wounded in action, the Pentagon said on Friday. But the monthly U.S. military death toll has steadily dropped since reaching 96 last October, the fourth deadliest month of the war.
There were at least 29 U.S. military deaths in March, according to a count of fatalities announced by the military. That would represent the smallest monthly death toll since 20 in February 2004, the lowest of the three-year war.
U.S. officers in Iraq said several factors have contributed to the decline, including that insurgents are now directing their attacks toward civilians and U.S.-trained Iraqi government security forces who are assuming more security responsibilities previously handled by U.S. and allied forces.
Asked to explain the dropping U.S. fatalities, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. James Thurman, responsible for security operations in the Baghdad area, cited the growing capabilities of Iraqi security forces, who number around 242,000.
"I just returned today from being out in one of the toughest spots in Baghdad, where we've had numerous drive-by shootings, IEDs (improved explosive devices), kidnappings and intimidation from terrorists," Thurman, commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, told reporters at the Pentagon by teleconference from Baghdad.
"And what I saw today was a true Iraqi force in the lead with Iraqi army, Iraqi national police and Iraqi police, with coalition assistance, performing a great job out there."
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