Baghdad ? U.S. military deaths in Iraq plunged by two-thirds in 2008 from the previous year, a reflection of the improving security following the U.S. military’s counterinsurgency campaign and al-Qaida’s slow retreat from the battlefield.

By comparison, the war in Afghanistan saw American military deaths rise by 35 percent in 2008 as Islamic extremists shift their focus to a new front with the West.

According to The Associated Press, at least 314 U.S. soldiers died in Iraq in 2008, down from 904 in the previous year. At least 4,221 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since 2003.

At least 7,496 Iraqis died in 2008 war-related violence according to an AP count, including 6,068 civilians and 1,428 security personnel, down 60 percent from 2007.

The Associated Press tally does not reflect a comprehensive total for Iraqi deaths because reports do not come in from all of the country. The estimate, however, has proven accurate for tracking trends.

In Afghanistan, 151 U.S. soldiers died in 2008, compared with 111 in the previous year, according to an AP tally.

At least 625 U.S. soldiers have died because of the war in Afghanistan since the fighting began in 2001.