8 American Troops Killed in Iraq

U.S. military officials reported the deaths of eight American troops, including those of four Marines who drowned Thursday when their tank rolled off a bridge into a canal near Karmah, about 50 miles west of the Iraqi capital.

The U.S. command said today that the deaths were not caused by hostile action.

In addition, three soldiers were killed Thursday in roadside bombings near Baghdad. A fourth soldier died of “noncombat-related wounds” Tuesday near Mosul, the military announced Thursday.

None of the troops was identified, pending notification of relatives. Their deaths raised to at least 2,436 the number of U.S. military personnel who have died in the Iraq theater since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.