Abizaid said the service members were reported missing as a result of an ambush of an Army supply convoy at Nasiriyah, a major crossing point over the Euphrates River northwest of Basra.
Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks said the ambush came after allied forces met a unit outside of Nasiriyah that apparently duped allied troops into believing it was prepared to surrender. The forces came under fire while preparing to accept what appeared to be surrendering forces.
He said the military believed the 12 missing soldiers were "in the custody of the irregular forces that conducted the ambush, and their status is not known." Abizaid said the captors were either Republican Guard forces or Iraqi guerrillas.
Brooks said the Iraqis destroyed the six coalition vehicles in the ambush.
"In spite of our losses, the enemy remains in great danger and our victory is certain," Abizaid told reporters.
This is what we get for fighting fare.Damn it.