Five US soldiers killed in Iraq roadside bombing

BAGHDAD, Dec 7 (Reuters) Five of the 10 US soldiers killed in Iraq on Wednesday, died when their vehicle was hit by an explosion in northern Kirkuk province, the US military said in a statement.

The military had reported the deaths yesterday night but had no immediate details. In today's statement, the military said the five Task Force Lightning soldiers had been conducting combat operations when the explosion occurred.

The 10 deaths yesterday brought to at least 29 the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq since the beginning of December.

More than 2,900 U.S. soldiers have been killed since the US-led invasion in 2003. October was the deadliest month for US troops this year, when 106 service members died in Iraq.

REUTERS PDM KN1529