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WASHINGTON, June 4, 2007 – U.S. officials in Iraq are studying a video posted to a terrorist Web site showing the military identification cards of two U.S. soldiers listed as missing since May 12, according to Multinational Force Iraq officials.
The two soldiers are officially listed as “duty status whereabouts unknown” since the enemy attacked their patrol. Four other U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter died in the attack. Iraqi police discovered the body of another U.S. soldier missing from the action on May 23. All of the soldiers are members of the Army’s 10th Mountain Division’s 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of our missing,” said Army Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “We condemn the tactics used by these terrorists and are using all means available to pursue those responsible.”
U.S. troops continue to search Baghdad and the surrounding area for the two soldiers – Spc. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Mass., and Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich.
Defense department officials said the video appears to show the common access cards of the two soldiers. Bergner said the video doesn’t contain any definitive evidence indicating the status of the soldiers.
“We continue to search and hope that our two missing soldiers will be found alive and in good health,” he said. “Coalition and Iraqi forces have actively searched for the missing soldiers since their disappearance, and we will continue.”
(From a Multinational Force Iraq news release.)
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