The soldiers, belonging to the US Army V Corps, were rushed to a field hospital for medical attention after the Saturday accident.

An investigation of the incident is underway, the Central Command said.

US officials released no further details on the circumstances of the accident.

On Tuesday two US marines were killed when unexploded ordnance they were handling detonated.

And on Wednesday nine Iraqi children were killed and seven wounded in southern Iraq when a rocket they were playing with exploded.

WAR.WIRE