Three US soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division were killed Thursday in an attack in northern Iraq, a US military spokesman said.

The soldiers came under attack from gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades while operating.

There were no reports of injuries so far.

That brings the total of US soldiers killed by hostile fires to 44 since US President George W. Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq on May 1.

The 101st Airborne Division, which is based in Iraq's northern city of Mosul, raided a villa Tuesday, killing two sons of Saddam Hussein.

Two US soldiers were killed Wednesday in separate attacks in Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2003)