-
BAGHDAD - Two US marines were killed and 22 wounded in enemy action in Iraq's western Al-Anbar province while another marine died in a car accident, the US military announced Saturday.
A marine with the 1st Marine logistics group died on Friday in Al Anbar province in a motor vehicle accident, the US military announced, emphasizing that it was not from enemy action.
In the firefight on Thursday, one marine assigned to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group died at the scene of the attack, while the other assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 died at a medical facility.
Eight wounded marines, all assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5, were evacuated by air to a medical facility in Balad.
"Two were listed in critical condition and six were listed in stable condition," the military said.
Ten other wounded marines were evacuated to a medical facility at Camp Fallujah, it added.
"Four were being held for observation. Six were treated and returned to duty," the military said.
Four other marines assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 received minor wounds. The military did not provide further details of the attack.
Following months of declining US casualties in Iraq, April has seen a sudden spate of attacks on coalition troops with more than 35 killed since the beginning of the month.
The latest fatalities brought the US military death toll in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion to 2,369, according to an AFP count based on Pentagon figures.
04/15/2006 15:54 GMT