BAGHDAD, Jan. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Two U.S. marines were killed in a suicide car bomb attack in western Iraq on Friday, U.S. military said on Sunday.

    The two marines, assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, were killed when a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, the U.S. military said in a statement.

    It said the attack took place as the marines were taking part in a combat operation in Haqlaniyah, some 240 km northwest of Baghdad.

    The incident is under investigation and the names of the soldiers are being withheld pending notification of next of kin, the statement added.

    The latest deaths brought the total death toll of U.S. military personnel in Iraq to more than 2,220 since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. Enditem