BAGHDAD, Iraq – Suicide bombings fell in November to their lowest level in seven months, the American military said yesterday, citing the success of American-Iraqi military operations against insurgent and foreign fighter sanctuaries near the Syrian border.

But the trend in Iraq has not resulted in less bloodshed: 85 American troops died during the month, one of the highest tolls since the invasion.

In Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad, the American military played down reports by residents and police of widespread attacks yesterday against American and Iraqi installations in the city. The military said only one rocket propelled grenade was fired at an observation post, causing no casualties. Insurgents left behind posters and graffiti saying they were members of Al Qaeda in Iraq.

Nevertheless, a coalition operations officer, Major General Rick Lynch, warned that Al Qaeda in Iraq, led by Jordanian terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, will likely step up attacks in the next two weeks to try to disrupt parliamentary elections December 15.

General Lynch told reporters that suicide bombings declined to 23 in November as American and Iraqi forces were overrunning insurgent strongholds in the Euphrates River valley west of the capital.

Communities along the river are believed used by foreign fighters, who slip into the country from Syria and travel down the river highway to Baghdad and other cities.

General Lynch called suicide bombings the insurgents’ “weapon of choice” because they can inflict a high number of casualties while sacrificing only the attacker. Classic infantry ambushes draw withering American return fire, resulting in heavy insurgent losses.

“In the month of November: only 23 suicide attacks – the lowest we’ve seen in the last seven months, the direct result of the effectiveness of our operations,” General Lynch said.

Car bombings – parked along streets and highways and detonated remotely – have declined from 130 in February to 68 in November, General Lynch said.

However, suicide attacks have not consistently decreased over the past year. After more than 70 such attacks in May, the number fell in August by nearly half and then climbed to over 50 two months later.

The American command said yesterday that four American service members were killed the day before, three of them from hostile action and the fourth in a traffic accident. The deaths raised the American fatality toll for November to at least 85.

In Ramadi, police Lieutenant Mohammed al-Obaidi said at least four mortar rounds fell near the American base on the city’s eastern edge. An AP Television News video showed masked insurgents walking down a shuttered market street and a residential neighborhood, as well as firing four mortar rounds. The gunmen appeared relaxed, and the American command dismissed the video as little more than a publicity stunt.

The brief burst of insurgent activity in Ramadi appeared aimed at diverting attention from a meeting between American officials and local tribal leaders in a bid to ease tensions in the city.

Also yesterday, the top official for human rights in the Interior Ministry was dismissed in connection with an inquiry into allegations of torture by government security forces. Nouri al-Nouri, was fired on the order of Prime Minister al-Jaafari, an official said.