February 22, 2005

Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A Marine was killed in action during military operations west of the Iraqi capital, the U.S. command said Tuesday.
The Marine was “conducting security and stability operations” in Anbar province with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, the military said in a statement, giving no other details.

Anbar has long been wracked by insurgent violence and includes the volatile cities of Ramadi, Fallujah and Qaim on the Syrian border.

On Sunday, U.S. forces launched a joint operation with Iraqi troops in Ramadi and several other cities west of Baghdad to crack down on insurgents and terrorists operating in the area.

As of Monday, at least 1,483 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.