Despite Formal Combat End, U.S. Joins Baghdad Battle

U.S. troops officially ended their combat mission on August 31

American troops have taken part in combat in Iraq for the first time since the August 31 deadline for formally ending the combat mission.

U.S. troops provided cover fire to Iraqi forces battling heavily armed militants who had attacked an Iraqi military headquarters in the center of Baghdad.

The fighting killed 12 people and wounded dozens.

The September 6 hour-long assault was the second in as many weeks on the facility.

U.S. forces are no longer officially on a combat mission in Iraq, but nearly 50,000 remain to train and assist the Iraqi military.

compiled from agency reports