BAGHDAD >> The U.S. military says two American soldiers have died in central Iraq.

In a statement released Monday, the military says the soldiers were killed during operations late Sunday in central Iraq. The statement gave no further details.

The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The death raises to at least 4,431 the number of U.S. military personnel who have died in Iraq since the war began in March 2003. That’s according to an Associated Press count.

The U.S. ended combat operations in Iraq in September.

About 50,000 American troops remain, assisting and training Iraqi security forces. The Iraqi forces will take full responsibility for protecting the country by year’s end, when the U.S. is to withdraw all forces.