Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. military in Iraq suffered its deadliest month since last year's invasion with more military personnel killed in action in November than in any equivalent period, the Pentagon's figures show.

At least 135 combat deaths were reported in Iraq between 10 a.m. New York time on Oct. 29 and the same time on Nov. 30, according to the casualty toll posted on the Department of Defense Web site. That surpasses the toll from April this year, when 131 soldiers, Marines and other military personnel were killed between March 31 and April 30, the Web site showed.

More than 50 of November's deaths occurred during the U.S. and Iraqi offensive to recapture the city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, from insurgents. That operation reduced parts of the mainly Sunni Muslim city to rubble and, according to the military, left more than 1,200 rebels dead.

November also saw an upsurge in violence elsewhere in Iraq, as insurgents took advantage of the U.S. focus on Fallujah to launch attacks in other cities. In the northern city of Mosul, rebels captured several police stations, forcing American and Iraqi troops to deploy there. Attacks also took place in cities such as Ramadi, near Fallujah, and Baqubah, north of Baghdad.

Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi on Nov. 7 declared a state of emergency across most of the country, and has since closed roads and borders, and imposed curfews on cities including Baghdad, Fallujah and Ramadi. Those actions are part of the administration's drive to establish control across Iraq ahead of planned elections on Jan. 30.

Total Toll

The Associated Press, citing its own tally, said that November's death toll of U.S. forces tied that in April, with 135 killed in each month. April was the last time U.S. forces tried to take control of Fallujah.

A total of 983 U.S. military personnel have been killed in action since the March 2003 invasion, according to the Pentagon's Web site. When other deaths such as those from accidents and illness are included, that toll rises to 1,254. Three defense department civilian workers are accounted for in the toll.

As many as 16,750 civilians have been killed in Iraq since last year's invasion as a result of the conflict, according to Iraq Body Count, a London-based group that opposes the war and compiles its casualty toll from media reports. The Pentagon doesn't compile civilian death statistics.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: December 1, 2004 06:27 EST