US Military Deaths in Iraq at 3,900

Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007 | 12:32 p.m.

As of Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at least 3,900 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes eight military civilians. At least 3,173 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

The AP count is four higher than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Wednesday at 10 a.m. EST.

The British military has reported 174 deaths; Italy, 33; Ukraine, 18; Poland, 21; Bulgaria, 13; Spain, 11; Denmark, seven; El Salvador, five; Slovakia, four; Latvia, three; Estonia, Netherlands, Thailand, Romania, two each; and Australia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, South Korea, one death each.

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The latest deaths reported by the military:

- Two soldiers died Wednesday from small arms fire in Ninevah province.

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The latest identifications reported by the military:

- Army Pfc. George J. Howell, 24, Salinas, Calif.; was killed Friday in Riyadh by an explosive; was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Infantry Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

- Army Sgt. Peter C. Neesley, 28, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.; died Tuesday in Baghdad of an undetermined cause in a non-combat environment; was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

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On the Net:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/