BAGHDAD, Nov. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- A US marine has been killed by small arms fire during a combat action in the western Iraqi town Husaybah near the Syrian border, the US military said on Monday.

    "A Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was killed in action when conducting combat operations against the enemy on Nov.6," the military said in a statement.

    About 3,500 US and Iraqi soldiers continued battling insurgents in the third successive day of the Operation Steel Curtain, aimed at restoring security and ridding Husaybah of al-Qaida fighters.

    Over 2,030 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion of the country in March 2003. Enditem