Two marines killed in Iraq, raising death toll to 1,999

Two US Marines were killed by a roadside bomb during fighting with insurgents in western Iraq, the military said today.

The deaths occurred on Friday near Amiriyah, 25 miles west of Baghdad, the military said in a statement.

The Marines were assigned to the Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

The deaths raised to 1,999 the number of members of the U.S. military who have died since the beginning of the US-led invasion of Iraq war in March 2003.