BAGHDAD: The U.S. military says two American soldiers have died in combat in northern Iraq.

A statement by the military says the soldiers from the U.S. North Division were killed Wednesday while conducting a patrol.

The names of the deceased soldiers were being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The death raises to at least 4,390 the number of U.S. military personnel who have died in Iraq since the war began in March 2003. That's according to a US-based news agency count.