BAGHDAD, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two American Marines were killed on Thursday in a combat in Iraq's western province of al-Anbar, the U.S. military said in a statement on Friday.

    One Marine assigned to Regiment Combat Team 5 and one Marine assigned to Regiment Combat Team 7 died Thursday from wounds sustained due to enemy action while operating in the volatile province, it said.

    The names of the two are being withheld pending notification of next of kin, the statement added.

    The latest deaths raise to 51 the number of American troops who died in December. Since the U.S.-led war in Iraq broke out in March 2003, more than 2,940 U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq, according to media count.