Iraqis look at the burnt out cabin of a U.S. military transporter carrying other military vehicles, following a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) attack

BAGHDAD, June 27 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Another U.S. soldier was killed and nine were injured in an ambush near An-Najaf late Thursday, June 26, as American troops remain "baffled" after two fellow armed-to-the-teeth soldiers have been reportedly abducted, along with their armored vehicle, by Iraqi resistance fighters.

The latest attack came as U.S. troops were on patrol near the Iraqi Shiite holy city of An-Najaf, around 130 kilometers south of Baghdad, Marine Major Rick Hall told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

They were attacked by gunmen as they "were conducting a motorized patrol, and the exact circumstances are still under investigation," he said.

"It is really unusual because the situation between An-Najaf and Kufah is usually quiet," Hall remarked.

According to an AFP count, the new death brings to 57 the number of U.S. troops killed since President George W. Bush declared the war on Iraq effectively over on May 1.

In another development, U.S. troops guarding the local government building in the flashpoint town of Fallujah came under rocket propelled grenade (RPG) attack overnight, local residents told AFP on Friday.

There were no reports of any U.S. casualties in the attack, at around 1:00 am (2100 GMT Thursday), when an unknown number of attackers fired a single RPG at the U.S. position, they said.

The American forces traded fire but apparently without hitting any of the attackers, who fled.

The troops deployed throughout the town, backed by helicopters, and sealed off its main road in search of the attackers.

A U.S. army spokesman said he was unable to confirm the attack, the second in three days.

U.S. forces have recently increased their presence in the town, carrying out intensive searches in swathes of the region.

The town, around 50 kilometers west of Baghdad, has been something of a flashpoint since U.S. troops shot dead at least 16 people at a demonstration in late April.

At least two other American soldiers were killed Thursday in an ambush targeting a U.S. military convoy on the road to Baghdad airport.

"The convoy was attacked. We are not sure of the type of explosive used," Lieutenant Sean McWilliams said, while Iraqi police said a hand grenade may have been used in the attack.

"Baffled"

Meanwhile, American troops were still "baffled" being unable to locate two missing soldiers apparently abducted together with their Humvee armored vehicle and arms.

U.S. military intelligence believes Iraqi Fedayeen abducted the two soldiers in the town of Balad for use in attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq, an army officer said Friday, June 28.

"They believe Fedayeen were using it, trying to get close to Americans with the vehicle to probably conduct another terrorist attack against them," Major Robert Twinner told AFP.

"The last time they spotted the vehicle was in Baghdad," he said.

Troops admitted Friday they could not understand how someone would be able to abduct them and their armored vehicle.

"We are all baffled," Sergeant First Class Tyrone Paige, involved in the intensive sweep, told AFP.

"Everybody in this area knows what to look for. I'm looking for them."

The two soldiers were believed to have gone missing Wednesday, June 25, in a remote location around 40 kilometers south of Balad, he added.

"The best intelligence reports we have right now is that it was Fedayeen. They actually abducted the soldiers and took the vehicle," said the American military official.

"We have no status on the soldiers at this time, we haven't found them but we will find them," he insisted, adding that they were from the 3rd Infantry Division and not the 4th Division as previously reported.

The Fedayeen put up some of the strongest resistance to U.S. and British forces who invaded Iraq in March.

Arrest

A U.S. officer said at least three people had been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the abduction.

"We're concerned. They had the vehicle, the radio, the weapons, the whole nine yards," said a U.S. official, who declined to be named.

Balad, on the Tigris River, has been the scene of intensive U.S. sweeps in recent weeks to stamp out attacks by resistance fighters.