US Military: 9 American Service Members Killed in Iraq

The U.S. military says nine more American service members have died in Iraq, including two in a suicide bombing at a U.S. combat post.

A statement says 17 other soldiers were wounded Monday when a suicide bomber exploded a vehicle outside the U.S. post, north of Baghdad.

The U.S. military says three Army soldiers were also killed Monday in a roadside bombing, southwest of Baghdad.

Separately, the U.S. military announced the deaths of three Marines and an Army soldier who were killed in combat operations in western Iraq.

In other news, the military says Iraqi forces backed by U.S. troops found insurgents assembling roadside bombs called explosively formed projectiles, or EFP's. Earlier this month, U.S. defense officials alleged Iran is smuggling the explosives into Iraq for use against U.S. and coalition forces.

Despite a new security crackdown in Baghdad, attacks in and around the capital killed more than 25 Iraqis Monday.

On Sunday, car bomb attacks in mainly Shi'ite areas of Baghdad killed at least 60 people and wounded about 100.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.