A terror group with links to al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility Sunday for the weekend attack that sparked a manhunt for three missing U.S. soldiers, according to a statement on the Internet.Islamic State of Iraq -- an umbrella insurgent group that includes al Qaeda in Iraq -- said in the statement that it fought Saturday with "Crusader" forces, killing some and taking others prisoner. It was unclear from the statement if the captured soldiers were alive.
Though the posting appeared on Web sites commonly used by the group -- and such statements in the past have rung true -- CNN is unable to verify the authenticity of the claim.
Five personnel were killed in the Saturday ambush south of Baghdad, including three U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi army interpreter, military spokesman Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell said Sunday. The fifth person has not been identified. (Watch the dangers troops face in the "Triangle of Death" )
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