"Two marines assigned to First Marine Expeditionary Force were killed in action and one marine died of wounds received in action Monday in the (centre-west) Al-Anbar province while conducting security and stability operations," the military said in a statement.

The marines have now lost 10 men in just over one week on various operations around Al-Anbar province, home to the restive city of Fallujah from where US officials suspect alleged Al-Qaeda operative Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi and his supporters are operating.

US-led military forces have carried out several air raids on what they say are dens of the Jordanian Islamist in Fallujah, including their second major strike Monday since the transfer of sovereignty to an Iraqi government two days earlier.

The latest death raised to at least 640 the number of US soldiers killed in action in Iraq since last year's US-led invasion.

WAR.WIRE