Wednesday 21st April, 2004

U.S. Marines fighting at Syrian border
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At least five U.S. Marines have died recently in clashes with insurgents near the Iraq-Syria border, WorldTribune.com reported Tuesday.

Initially, the Marines were deployed along the border to ensure insurgents would not get themselves or their equipment into Iraq.

But in the last two weeks Marines have fought both Sunni insurgents as well as some Syrian security personnel along the border.

The fights, in which at least five Marines of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force have died, have been near the western Iraqi towns of Al Qaim and Qusaybah.

Some 150 insurgents also have been killed, Middle East Newsline reported.

Marines have deployed a quick reaction force that includes helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft for attacks along the Syrian border. Insurgents move through the Syrian border past al-Qaim to Ramadi and on to Fallujah.