WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- A total of 1,210 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq since the United States launched war against the Middle Eastern country in March 2003, latest figures from the Pentagon showed on Tuesday.

    Of the dead, 943 were killed in combat and 267 in non-battle circumstances.

    Ninety-one casualties were reported for November so far, bringing the number to 1,210 from 1,119 at the beginning of this month. Many of the deaths occurred during the US military operation in Falluja that began on Nov. 7.

    A total of 38 US soldiers were killed in the week-long offensive, which was aimed at helping pave the way for the general elections in Iraq scheduled for January next year. November would become the second-deadliest month for American forces since March 2003, following April this year when 135 deaths were reported.

    Since the start of the war, 8,956 US servicemen have been wounded, including at least 320 US soldiers who were wounded in the Falluja operation. Enditem