BAGHDAD, Sept. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Two US soldiers were killed and seven others wounded early Friday when they conducted an operation in western Iraq, the US military said.

　　The latest casualties were caused during a predawn firefight in Ramadi, a restive city 100 km west of Baghdad, said a military spokesperson.

　　The spokesperson said "two soldiers were killed and seven wounded when a firefight broke out while they were conducting a raid in Ramadi at approximately 3:00 am this morning (2300 GMT Thursday)."

　　"They were evacuated to a medical facility and that was where the two died of their wounds," the spokesperson added.  

    Earlier, two US soldiers were also wounded on Friday when their convoy hit a roadside bomb near Fallujah, 50 km west of Baghdad, witnesses said.

　　During a prolonged battle in Fallujah on Thursday afternoon, several soldiers were reportedly injured when unidentified fighters fired rocket-propelled grenades and small weapons on their patrol.  

    At least 70 American soldiers have been killed in hostile fire in Iraq since US President George W. Bush declared major combatover on May 1. Enditem