Four U.S. Soldiers Killed In Iraq In 24 Hours

BAGHDAD, Aug 3 (AFP) - Another US marine died of wounds sustained in action in western Iraq Monday, the US military said Tuesday, bringing the number of US soldiers killed in the past 24 hours to four.
"An additional marine assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary force died of wounds received in action August 2 in the Al-Anbar province while conducting security and stability operations. This brings the total to two," a US military statement said without elaborating.
An earlier statement said two soldiers were killed and two wounded after they were hit by a roadside bomb in the capital at about 11:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Monday.
Al-Anbar province includes the flashpoint Sunni Muslim cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, as well as the troubled Syrian border region.
Marine posts in Fallujah, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Baghdad, are frequently attacked by insurgents with small arms, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.
The latest casualties bring to 681 the number of US troops killed in Iraq since last year's invasion, according to a Pentagon tally.