Three U.S. troops have been killed in fighting west of Baghdad, the military said Friday, making April the deadliest month this year for American forces in Iraq, according to AP. At least 18 U.S. soldiers died in April, a sharp increase from March's total of nine _ the lowest since the war began in March 2003. April also marked the highest number of U.S. troop deaths since 25 were killed in September. The deaths come as a series of deadly bombings in recent weeks has raised concerns that insurgents are stepping up their efforts to re-ignite sectarian bloodshed and derail security gains that have brought overall violence to its lowest levels in recent years. Most of the violence has targeted Iraqis since the Americans have begun pulling back from inner-city outposts and letting Iraqis take the lead in security operations. But attacks have continued against the U.S. forces. The two U.S. Marines and one sailor were killed Thursday while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, according to a statement. The U.S. military reported 17 Americans killed in February and 16 in January.
