The Multinational Division-West headquarters in Iraq said the Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7 died yesterday from wounds sustained due to enemy action while operating in western Anbar Province.

The Marine's name was being withheld pending notification of next of kin and release by the Defense Department.

Marine Corps Base Hawai'i confirmed the Marine is with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

Two Hawai'i Marines with the unit were killed Oct. 8 in separate battles. The 2nd battalion has lost five Marines in combat since Sept. 26. About 1,000 Hawai'i Marines last month started a seven-month deployment to Iraq.

The military says a sharp increase in U.S. casualties — 70 so far this month — is tied to Ramadan and a security crackdown in Baghdad. Muslim tenets hold that fighting a foreign occupation force during the holy month puts a believer closer to God.

Seven Hawai'i-based soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division have been killed in Iraq in recent months. More than 7,000 Schofield Barracks soldiers are on a year-long deployment to northern Iraq.