No Combat Deaths in Iraq in December, First Time Since Start of War

December was the first month since the invasion of Iraq that there were no U.S. combat deaths, according to the Pentagon.

There were three non-combat fatalities during December, CNN reported.

Military officials credit the milestone to the continued decrease in insurgent violence across Iraq.

Combat deaths have dropped since June, when the U.S. started pulling troops out of Baghdad and other cities. The military also drew down troop levels last year from 160,000 to the current level of about 110,000.

May 2009 saw the highest number of combat fatalities, with 17. Since July, U.S. forces have suffered no more than five combat-related deaths each month.

Since the war began in March 2003, 4,373 members of the U.S. military have been killed, according to CNN.