3 coalition soldiers killed in attack on Iraq base

Militants fire mortar or rocket at site in Basra, U.S. military says

Conflict in Iraq video

Money talks for Blackwater in Iraq
Nov. 10: The New York Times reports that the Blackwater security company authorized secret payments to Iraqi officials to silence criticism. Rachel Maddow talks about these new revelations with Jeremy Scahill, reporter for The Nation.

Obama praises Iraq's new election law

Iraq relying on hocus pocus bomb detection

Timeline

AP file

Iran and Iraq: Short review of a long history

The relationship is at center of world affairs and America's global interests

Interactive

Fight for Iraq
Learn more about the ethnic, religious and political powerplays in this virtual tour led by NBC’s Richard Engel.

World Blog: Baghdad, Iraq

Drought and sandstorms, Iraq's latest battle

Cautious optimism as U.S. troops withdraw

More couples say 'I do' in Baghdad

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

updated 4:12 a.m. ET July 17, 2009

BAGHDAD - Three soldiers were killed in an attack on a coalition forces base in the former Shiite militia stronghold of Basra, the U.S. military said Friday.

The soldiers were killed about 9:15 p.m. Thursday when their base near Basra's airport was hit by "indirect fire," the military said, referring to an attack by mortars or rockets.

U.S. troops recently took over for departing British forces and are housed outside of Iraq's second-largest city.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

The identity of the soldiers killed have not yet been released. An investigation into their deaths is under way.

Violence has dropped off sharply — especially in southern Iraq — since last year, when U.S. and Iraqi forces routed Shiite militias from their strongholds in Basra. Iraqi officials, however, have expressed concern that some of the extremists are seeking to re-ignite the violence.

More on Iraq