Baghdad, July 11, SPA -- Two U.S. Marines were killed duringcombat operations in western Iraq near the Syrian border,the U.S. military said Monday. The Marines, assigned to Regimental Combat Team 2 of the2nd Marine Division, were killed by "indirect fire"during operations in the volatile town of Hit near theSyrian border, the statement said. It gave no further details. Indirect fire usually refersto mortar shells. As of Sunday, at least 1,753 members of the U.S. militaryhave died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least1,348 died as a result of hostile action. The figuresinclude five military civilians.--SPA1338 Local Time 1038 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/276065