Late Monday, insurgents fired mortars at a base near Balad, 89km north of the capital, the military said. US forces subsequently caught 12 of the suspected attackers.
Since US President George W. Bush declared major combat operations had ended on May 1, 29 US troops have been killed by hostile fire and 44 others have died in accidents and other non-hostile circumstances, a total of 73.
The total number of Americans who have died in Iraq since the conflict began March 20 stands at 212, including the death Monday in Balad.
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