Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. marines and a sailor werekilled in combat operations in Iraq's western Anbar province, the U.S. military said on Monday.

    A marine and a sailor, assigned to Multi-national Force-West, were killed on Friday in the volatile province of Anbar, the military said in a brief statement.

    A marine assigned to the same force was killed on Saturday while conducting combat operations in the province, the military said in separate statement.

    The names of the killed are being withheld pending notificationof next of kin, the statements added.

    Since the U.S.-led war in Iraq broke out in March 2003, about 3,170 U.S. soldiers have been killed in the country, according to media count based on Pentagon figures.