A U.S. Marine was killed in action Friday during "security operations" in the Al Anbar Province, the Marines said in a release on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Iraq's Prime Minister Ayad Allawi made a strong warning to his country's neighbors to crack down on fighters infiltrating from their territory, saying Friday that his patience was ebbing away.
Iraqi officials have repeatedly accused Syria and Iran of supporting the attacks against US soldiers forces and Allawi's U.S.-backed government.
In Allawi's comments to Baghdad's Al-Iraqiya television he said "Some countries are hosting people who are involved in harming the Iraqi people." "Harming Iraq and its people is not allowed."
He said his government had contacted these states and was waiting for their reply. "According to the answers we will decide what the next step will be," he said.
"Iraq is not a weak country. Iraq is passing through a difficult period but Iraq can respond in a strong way if needed," he said. "Patience has limits and it is beginning to run out."
