Marine Group in Iraq Issues Statement Blasting Images

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3, 2005 – Marine Corps officials in Iraq issued an emotionally worded statement today as they investigate whether a body in a video and photographs circulating in the region are of a Marine killed in action this week.

The Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad released the statement on behalf of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), which has lost 21 Marines to terrorist attacks in the last three days, including 14 who died in a roadside bomb explosion this morning.

"We are aware that a video and photos exist of a body purported to be a Marine killed in action near Haditha on Aug. 1," the statement said. "We are reviewing the materials to determine if the body shown is one of the Marines killed that day."

Six Marines were killed in action near Haditha Aug. 1.

Semper Fi