2,945

As of Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, at least 2,945 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 2,359 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

The latest identifications reported by the military:
• Army Pfc. Paul Balint Jr., 22, Willow Park, Texas, died Friday in Ramadi of small arms fire; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany.
• Two soldiers died Dec. 4 in Ramadi of small arms fire:
• Army Pfc. Albert M. Nelson, 31, Philadelphia.
• Army Pfc. Roger A. Suarez-Gonzalez, 21, of Miami.
• Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
• Army Spc. Nicholas P. Steinbacher, 22, La Crescenta, Calif., died Dec. 10 when an explosive detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.