Six months after the war in Iraq ended, southern Iraq's largest city is enjoying a relative peace that still eludes the violence-stricken central region of Baghdad. Photo by AP
Targeting Americans with new courage, rebels hiding in a date palm grove shot down a Chinook helicopter carrying dozens of soldiers heading for home leave Sunday, killing 16 and wounding 20 in the deadliest strike against US forces since they invaded Iraq in March. Two days before the attack, Iraqi rebels warned of new attacks using "modern and advanced methods." Three other Americans were killed in separate attacks Sunday. All three were victims of roadside bombs, the military said.