Five American soldiers killed in central Iraq

Five American soldiers were killed in an attack in central Iraq on Monday, in one of the deadliest days for the American military since the mission there ended nine months ago, according to the New York Times.

Iraqi security officials said the soldiers were killed when multiple rockets were fired on an American base in southeast Baghdad, but U.S. military officials would not confirm the details, the Times reports.

Though all of the estimated 46,000 American forces still in Iraq are scheduled to withdraw by the end of the year, militant attacks have continued to target U.S. troops ahead of this departure.

Two American troops were killed in Iraq last month, while 11 died in April, according to icasualties.org.