American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2005  - Ten Marines were killed and 11 were wounded by a roadside bomb during a foot patrol outside Fallujah Dec. 1, military officials reported today.

The patrol, from Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was attacked with a bomb made from several large artillery shells.

Names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Officials said seven of the wounded Marines have returned to duty. The combat team continues to conduct counterinsurgency operations throughout Fallujah and the surrounding area to provide a secure environment for the national elections Dec. 15.

In other action, a roadside bomb hit soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 1st Battalion, 1st Iraqi Intervention Force, Dec. 1 in the Al Qaim area. No Iraqi soldiers sustained injuries, and no damage to equipment was reported.

While searching the explosion area, a military-aged man was taken into custody. Later, while searching northwest Al Qaim, an insurgent listed on the Ramada persons of interest list was also taken into custody.

All suspects were handed over to the authorities and are being detained pending further investigation.

Also, troops from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, apprehended two insurgents after a drive-by car shooting Dec.1 in the Baghdad area.

One soldier was hit, but was unharmed when the bullet hit the his body armor during the gun fire.

Troops pursued the car and detained two individuals for further investigation.

(Based on news releases from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq.)