An American soldier has been killed in an ambush west of Baghdad, the day after troops fought off coordinated attacks on convoys delivering money to Iraqi banks north of the capital.
The US military says insurgents attacked an Army patrol with small arms fire today (Monday) about 80 kilometers west of Baghdad (near the town of Habbaniyah) in the so-called Sunni Triangle.
The statement said one soldier was fatally wounded and three Iraqis were captured in the clash.
Earlier, US officers gave the first details of clashes Sunday that some called the most intense battle since the end of major combat on May first.
The officers said insurgents staged simultaneous attacks on convoys carrying new Iraqi currency to two banks in the town of Samarra (100 kilometers north of the capital).
US officials said they believe 54 Iraqi fighters were killed in Sunday's clashes, but local residents said the death toll was lower and included civilians.
In addition to the scores of Iraqi fighters who were killed, US officials say 18 insurgents were wounded, and another eight were captured. Five American soldiers and one civilian were wounded.
About 100 US troops were in the two convoys. US officers say they faced a combined force of 60 to 80 Iraqi fighters. Some of the attackers reportedly wore uniforms of the Fedayeen -- a militia loyal to ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
The fighting in Samarra was the latest in a series of attacks aimed at American soldiers and others connected to the US - led coalition in Iraq. South Korea says two of its citizens -- civilian engineers -- were killed in a roadside attack north of Baghdad Sunday.