The military newspaper Stars and Stripes reports four female US soldiers have been punished under a controversial new rule that makes pregnancy a violation of military law in northern Iraq. Under the rules, any female soldier who became pregnant could be punished by court-martial and jail time, but so far the pregnant soldiers have only been given letters of reprimand. Three male soldiers have also been punished for impregnating female soldiers. The Army’s chief commander in northern Iraq said he instituted the ban to prevent the loss of valuable female soldiers. The rule only applies in northern Iraq; no other units in Iraq or Afghanistan have instituted similar rules on pregnancy.