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Soldiers killed in Afghan ambush | Soldiers killed in Afghan ambush |
(10 minutes later) | |
Six Nato soldiers and three Afghan troops have been killed in fighting in eastern Afghanistan, Nato has said. | Six Nato soldiers and three Afghan troops have been killed in fighting in eastern Afghanistan, Nato has said. |
Militants ambushed a joint patrol of Afghan soldiers and troops from Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Nuristan province, Nato said. | Militants ambushed a joint patrol of Afghan soldiers and troops from Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Nuristan province, Nato said. |
The rebels attacked with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. | The rebels attacked with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. |
Eight Isaf troops and 11 Afghan troops were also wounded, the alliance said, in one of the most costly incidents this year. | |
The Taleban said they carried out the attack, which took place on Friday. | |
Taleban resurgence | Taleban resurgence |
Nato refused to detail the nationality of the dead foreign soldiers but a US military spokesman said American soldiers were killed in Friday's ambush, Associated Press news agency reported. | Nato refused to detail the nationality of the dead foreign soldiers but a US military spokesman said American soldiers were killed in Friday's ambush, Associated Press news agency reported. |
The spokesman, Lt Col David Accetta, said the troops were returning from a meeting with village elders when they came under fire from several positions simultaneously. | The spokesman, Lt Col David Accetta, said the troops were returning from a meeting with village elders when they came under fire from several positions simultaneously. |
He described the attack as a "complex ambush". | He described the attack as a "complex ambush". |
Most of the Isaf troops in eastern Afghanistan are American. | Most of the Isaf troops in eastern Afghanistan are American. |
Even without counting Friday's casualties, a US military spokesman in Kabul said this year has seen the heaviest losses for US troops in the country since the Taleban were toppled in 2001, with 95 soldiers killed. | Even without counting Friday's casualties, a US military spokesman in Kabul said this year has seen the heaviest losses for US troops in the country since the Taleban were toppled in 2001, with 95 soldiers killed. |
Fighting between militants and international forces has intensified in the last two years as the Taleban have mounted a resurgence. | Fighting between militants and international forces has intensified in the last two years as the Taleban have mounted a resurgence. |
Attacks have increased in Nuristan province, on the border with north-west Pakistan, which has also seen increasing violence from pro-Taleban militants. | Attacks have increased in Nuristan province, on the border with north-west Pakistan, which has also seen increasing violence from pro-Taleban militants. |
There are currently more than 50,000 foreign soldiers in Afghanistan. | There are currently more than 50,000 foreign soldiers in Afghanistan. |
About 40,000 are under the command of Isaf, the rest form a coalition under US direction. | About 40,000 are under the command of Isaf, the rest form a coalition under US direction. |