Five U.S. Marines died in fighting with al-Qaeda fighters near the Syrian border and an Army soldier died of wounds suffered in Baghdad. Eleven other Marines were injured Wednesday in Obeidi, 185 miles northwest of Baghdad, according to a New York Times reporter traveling with U.S. forces.
A U.S. Marine statement confirmed the five deaths. The statement added 16 "insurgents" were confirmed killed in the fighting.
Elsewhere, a soldier died Wednesday of wounds suffered the day before when a roadside bomb went off northwest of Baghdad, the U.S. command said, according to the AP. Three other soldiers were killed Tuesday in a roadside bombing in the same area.
Meanwhile, Former US President, Bill Clinton told Arab students Wednesday the United States made a "big mistake" when it invaded Iraq. Clinton cited the lack of planning for what would happen after Saddam Hussein was ousted.
"Saddam is gone. It's a good thing, but I don't agree with what was done," Clinton told students at a forum at the American University of Dubai. "It was a big mistake. The American government made several errors ... one of which is how easy it would be to get rid of Saddam and how hard it would be to unite the country."
