US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,379 Tuesday, according to Associated Press count

US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,379

As of Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, at least 4,379 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

The figure includes nine military civilians killed in action. At least 3,478 military personnel died as a result of hostile action, according to the military’s numbers.

The AP count is one fewer than the Defense Department’s tally, last updated Tuesday at 10 a.m. EST.

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Iraq, 31,693 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department’s weekly tally.

The latest deaths reported by the military:

—An American soldier died Tuesday in a vehicle-related accident in western Baghdad.

—Two Army helicopter pilots were killed Sunday in an accident on a base in northern Iraq.

On the Net:

www.defenselink.mil/news/