Seven U.S. Service Members Killed in Iraq

Seven U.S. service members died yesterday in Iraq due to enemy action, the U.S. military said today.

The deaths were announced as U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad to discuss security issues.

The new fatalities follow one of the deadliest months for U.S. troops since the Iraq war began in March 2003.

In October, 105 U.S. service members were killed, the most in a single month since January 2005.

Today, the U.S. military said four Marines died yesterday from combat-related wounds sustained in al-Anbar province west of Baghdad.

Three soldiers also died yesterday when the vehicle in which they were riding was struck by an improvised-explosive device in eastern Baghdad.

The U.S. military also said one soldier died yesterday in a non-combat related incident north of Baghdad.

The names of the dead service members were withheld pending notification of next of kin, the U.S. military said.

Negroponte's previously announced visit follows a trip to Baghdad early this week by National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

Al-Maliki met with Negroponte in the Iraqi leader's office in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, the Associated Press reported.

A spokesman for the prime minister, Yassin Majid, said the visit was part "of a continuing series of meetings between the Iraqi government and the U.S. administration," AP said.

Video from the prime minister's office showed Negroponte and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad greeting al-Maliki, with three kisses on the check, according to AP.

Negroponte preceded Khalilizad as U.S. ambassador to Iraq.