WASHINGTON, April 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The Pentagon announced Thursday it has created two medals for US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    The medals were established under a presidential executive order to "recognize members, who made specific sacrifices and significant contributions in these areas of operation," the Pentagon said in a statement.

    Soldiers must have served in direct support of American military operations in Afghanistan on or after Oct. 24, 2001, to be eligible to receive the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and must have served in direct support of US military operations on or after March 19, 2003 to be eligible to receive the Iraq Campaign Medal, according to the statement.

    Both medals may be awarded posthumously.

    At least 163 US troops have died in Afghanistan or related duties since the invasion in October 2001, and at least 1,538 American soldiers and four civilian contractors have died in Iraq since March 2003, according to Pentagon statistics. Enditem