Tuesday marked the first deaths in Iraq since the president declared the end of combat operations on August 31. Two Americans were killed by a gunman wearing an Iraq army uniform, and nine more were wounded. Army Major General Tony Cucolo called the deaths the result of a “tragic and cowardly act” and part of an “isolated incident,” trying to allay concerns by positing the attack was not “reflective of Iraqi Security Forces in Salah ad-Din.” [NYDN]