The death toll for American soldiers killed in Iraq has now exceeded the 2,973 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The US military announced the deaths of four soldiers on Christmas day in an explosion south-west of Baghdad.

This comes on the heels of a column by Senator Chris Dodd saying that it's time for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

"The joint patrol was conducting security operations in order to stop terrorists from placing roadside bombs in the area," the military said in a statement on the latest deaths.

"As they conducted their mission, a roadside bomb exploded near one of their vehicles."

Another soldier was wounded in the explosion, the military said.

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