"In two separate incidents, one Marine assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force was killed in action Sept 20 and another died of wounds received in action, while conducting security and stability operations in the Al Anbar Province," a statement said, without providing further details.

Al-Anbar province includes the city of Fallujah -- which harbours some of Iraq's most radical insurgents and has become a no-go zone for US marines. And its capital, Ramadi, has been rocked by daily clashes between militants and coalition troops.

According to Pentagon figures, the latest deaths bring to 1,035 the number of US troops killed in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion.

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