Every soldier`s loss tragic: US

Baghdad (ANTARA News) - The loss of every American soldier is tragic and "keenly felt" by families and military commanders, US military spokesman Rear Admiral Gregory Smith said Monday, as the death toll in Iraq hit 4,000.

"No casualty is more or less significant than another; each soldier, marine, airman and sailor is equally precious and their loss equally tragic," Smith told AFP in an emailed statement.

Four soldiers were killed on Sunday in a road bomb attack during a patrol in southern Baghdad, taking the overall losses of the military in Iraq to 4,000, according to an AFP tally based on independent website www.icasualties.org.

The chaotic and brutal conflict which is now in its sixth year has also left more than 29,000 American soldiers wounded, according to the website.

"Every single loss of a soldier, sailor, airman or marine is keenly felt by military commanders, families and friends both in theatre and at home," Smith said.

"Being in the military means we are willingly in harm's way to protect others in order to bring hope and a sustainable security to the Iraqi people," he said. (*) end