US soldier killed in Iraq

A US soldier has been killed in action in western Iraq, the US military said today.

The soldier assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was killed yesterday “while conducting security and stability operations” in volatile Anbar province, the military said in a statement.

No other details were available.

The deceased soldier’s name was withheld as is customary in the military, pending notification of next of kin.

Anbar is a vast territory west of Baghdad where insurgents have been active and includes the cities of Fallujah, Ramadi and Qaim on the border with Syria.

As of yesterday, at least 1,464 members of the US military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003.

At least 1,114 died as a result of hostile action, according to the Defence Department.

The figures include four military civilians.