The U.S. military says 11 American soldiers were killed in Iraq on Tuesday and Wednesday -- battling both the ongoing insurgency and increasing sectarian violence.
At least 69 U. S. troops have died in Iraq this month -- one of the bloodiest in the past two years. American troops are conducting more aggressive patrolling in Baghdad to try to end violence between Shi'ites and Sunnis in the city. U.S. troops are also helping Iraqi forces patrol the northern town of Balad, where Iraqi officials say at least 93 people were killed in sectarian violence over the past five days.
In an interview with the BBC, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani the violence could end if neighboring Iran and Syria were involved in trying to help the Iraqi people. Meanwhile, the U.S. military says that eight U.S. soldiers and three Marines will face court-martial in three separate rape and murder cases and that two of the servicemen could face the death penalty if convicted.