A series of four separate attacks over a six-hour period Thursday left sixteen soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division’s Task Force Baghdad injured, military officials said Friday.

Children as young a six threw Molotov cocktails at the soldiers, officials said.

The wounded soldiers were taken to military medical facilities for treatment.

Five were hurt when a rocket-propelled grenade round fired by an insurgent detonated as the troops inspected a civil project in Sadr City in eastern Baghdad.

"We are deeply disappointed that the Mahdi Militia has brought fighting back to the good people of Sadr City," said Col. Robert "Abe" Abrams, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in eastern Baghdad.

"We have worked tirelessly to restore essential services to the city, and these attacks hamper our efforts.

"It shows the wanton disregard by anti-Iraqi forces for the people of Sadr City," he said.

Seven other soldiers were wounded in a second attack 30 minutes later in Central Baghdad when insurgents attacked with hand grenades and small arms.

Two soldiers were wounded in a third attack at about 5 p.m. Thursday in the northeastern part of the city.

And one soldier was hit by small arms fire in a fourth attack about 30 minutes later in eastern Baghdad.

"Our Soldiers showed amazing restraint," Abrams said. He said children as young as 6 were throwing Molotov cocktails at the vehicles. "Our Soldiers did not return fire because they were only children."