Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Four U.S. Marines and a sailor were killed in the volatile Anbar province on Wednesday, the U.S. military said in a statement on Thursday.

    "One sailor assigned to 3rd Naval Construction Regiment, two Marines assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 and two Marines assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7 died Wednesday from injuries sustained due to enemy action while operating in Al Anbar Province," the statement said.

    The military did not say whether the soldiers were killed in the same incident.

    The deaths brought to about 98 the number of U.S. soldiers killed in October, the heaviest loss for the military in a single month this year.

    About 2,800 U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.