One U.S. soldier killed in Iraq

A U.S. soldier was killed during an operation in Iraq's southern province of Basra on Sunday, the U.S. army said.

"A United States Forces -- Iraq -- soldier was killed today in Basra province while conducting operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom," a military statement said without giving further details.

The latest death brings the number of U.S. soldiers who have been killed in Iraq to 4,417, since the breakout of the U.S.-led war on Iraq in 2003, according to media account based on Pentagon figures.

The latest death came as the U.S. military is withdrawing its combat troops from the country as planned by U.S. President Barack Obama who set the end of August as the deadline to end combat operations in Iraq.

Source: Xinhua