Special report: Tension accelerates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. Marines were killed on Sunday while operating in the volatile western Iraqi province of al-Anbar, the U.S. military said in a statement on Monday.

    The two, assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5, died on Sunday due to enemy action, the statement said, without elaborating.

    Al-Anbar is believed to be a stronghold of Sunni insurgents.

    The U.S. military suffers daily casualty in Iraq, though it claims that violence in the country is abating.

    At least 2,649 U.S. military servicemen have been killed in Iraq since the outbreak of the U.S.-led war in March 2003, according to media count. Most of them died as a result of hostile action. Enditem