Thursday 03 February 2005, 14:03 Makka Time, 11:03 GMT
According to the US military, a mortar attack in northern Iraq, meant to hit a US base, fell too short and killed two civillians in ht e area of Tal Afar.
Another six people were wounded.
"The insurgent minority attempted to fire mortar rounds at the Tal Afar Castle, instead missing and killing and wounding innocent Iraqis," the military reported.
In the province of al-Anbar a predominant Sunni area in western Iraq, two US marines were killed in action, on Thursday.
"A marine assigned to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was killed in action yesterday (Wednesday) bringing to two the number of marines who died while conducting security and stability operations in the al-Anbar province," as a military statement declares.
Il Romanaccio at 2:07 PM
