Fighting west of Baghdad has left nine U.S. marines dead -- one of the bloodiest days for U.S. troops in Iraq in months.

Eight of the soldiers died in a car bomb attack near Fallujah on Saturday. A ninth combat death was reported by the marines, but no details were provided.

Nine other marines were wounded in fighting in Anbar province on Saturday, which includes the militant stronghold of Fallujah.

U.S. forces launched new air strikes against suspected militant targets in Fallujah. They also carried out probing attacks on the city's outskirts.

It is believed they are preparing for a major operation in the city in advance of the Iraqi elections on Jan. 31.

Fallujah is considered the centre for Sunni Muslim resistance. U.S. officers say up to 5,000 Islamic militants, Saddam Hussein loyalists and criminals are holed up in the city.

U.S. officials say they're taking orders directly from Iraq's Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who has warned officials in Fallujah to root out and hand over militants.

"We're gearing up to do an operation and when we're told to go, we'll go," Brig. Gen. Dennis Hejlik told AP at a camp near Fallujah. "When we do go, we'll whack them."

Other violence:

The headquarters of the Al-Arabiya television network in Baghdad were hit by a car bomb Saturday. Seven people were killed and 19 wounded.

Najwa Qassem, an Arabiya correspondent, told The Associated Press that one guard and one administration worker were confirmed dead.

A group calling itself the "1920 Brigades" claimed responsibility. It attacked Arabiya as a group of "Americanized spies speaking in Arabic tongue," according to a website posting.

More attacks against the "treacherous network" were threatened.

They list Elie Nakouzi, a Christian Lebanese anchor, as their number one target. He used to broadcast from Baghdad, but now works out of Dubai.

In Haswa, a town about 40 kilometres south of Baghdad, witnesses say Iraqi forces opened fire on six vehicles after a U.S. convoy was attacked. An estimated 14 people were killed and a dozen more were injured.

Witnesses confirmed to Associated Press TV News that an American convoy had been attacked.

In other news:

• Al-Arabiya aired video of a captured Sudanese interpreter who had been working in the Sunni hotspot of Ramadi. An unnamed militant group demanded the interpreter's employer, U.S. contractor Titan Corp., leave Iraq.
• An influential Sunni cleric was detained in Baghdad by U.S. troops, along with his son and brother-in-law.
• The Bangladesh government confirmed that Iraqi militants have captured one of its nationals, a truck driver.

With files from The Associated Press