6 US Soldiers, 3 Afghanis Killed in a Taliban Attack

6 US, 3 Afghani soldiers die in ambush

www.chinaview.cn 2007-11-11 08:53:51 Print

KABUL, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) --

Six American soldiers serving under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and three Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed Friday during fighting in eastern Afghanistan, said an ISAF statement released here on Saturday.

Friday's deaths make this year the deadliest since the 2001 invasion for U.S. military personnel. In addition, nineteen more soldiers, including eight from NATO and 11 from Afghan army, were injured in the battle, the statement added. It was not immediately clear whether those were Americans.

"Six ISAF service members and three Afghan National Army Soldiers were killed yesterday during fighting that began around 4 p.m. local time in eastern Afghanistan," it said.

The incident occurred when the troops came under militants' attack, it added.

The combined forces came under fire from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades during the "ambush."

In response, NATO said forces fired back with small-arms, machine guns, mortars, artillery and close-air support.

So far this year 100 U.S. military personnel have died due mainly to insurgency-related violence, according to figures from the U.S.-led NATO and Coalition. That number surpasses the previous high of 94 U.S. military deaths in 2005.

Militancy and conflicts have claimed lives of more than 5,600 people since January this year in war-torn Afghanistan.

Editor: Han Lin

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