"Four marines assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force were killed recently as a result of enemy action in the Al Anbar province," said the statement.

"Two of the marines were killed in action April 13; two marines were killed in action April 12," it added.

The casualties seemed to include a US marine announced killed in action on Tuesday by a US army spokesman who said seven others were wounded outside the hotspot city of Fallujah.

WAR.WIRE