Three Spanish soldiers were wounded Thursday night in an ambush in the northern Iraqi town of Diwaniyah, the Spanish Defense Ministry said.
A Spanish patrol was attacked by members of the self-claimed AlMahdi Army when crossing a bridge in Diwaniyah, the headquarters of the 1,300-strong Spanish troops stationed in Iraq, a statement of the Defense Ministry said.
The Spaniards of the II Plus Ultra Brigade "were doing a foot journey, escorted by a BMR armored vehicle against which two rocket propelled grenades were launched," said the statement. A captain and two soldiers were wounded.
The three were taken to the Advanced Medical Echelon (EMAT) of the Spanish base in Diwaniyah. One was hit in his left eye and other two in the neck, but none of the injuries was life-threatening, according to doctors.
Spain's Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has pledged to withdraw the Spanish contingent from Iraq before June 30 if the United Nations does not take charge from the US-led coalition authorities in the war-devastated country.