Rocket attack kills five US advisers in Iraq

Five American troops serving as advisers to Iraqi security police in eastern Baghdad were killed yesterday when rockets slammed into the compound where they lived. The deaths were the largest single-day loss of life for US forces in two years.

Iraqi security officials said the troops died when three rockets struck near the US forces living quarters at a joint US-Iraqi base in Baladiyat where US forces were partnering with Ministry of Interior troops.

The deaths raised to 4,459 the number of US service members who have died in Iraq.