US Soldier, British Soldier, Seven Taliban Fighters Killed in Afghanistan War Attacks

 December 19, 2009

US soldier killed in Afghan blast, seven Taliban killed in clashes

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:57:56 GMT

DPA, Kabul -

A roadside bomb killed a US soldier in southern Afghanistan, while security forces killed seven (alleged) Taliban fighters in the country's northern region, officials said Saturday.

The soldier, who became the 305th US military death in Afghanistan so far this year, was killed in a roadside bomb blast, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement. It did not provide further details.

There are around 68,000 US troops along with around 40,000 forces from other NATO countries currently stationed in Afghanistan.

An additional 30,000 US and up to 7,000 extra NATO troops are expected to arrive in Afghanistan by next summer to try to turn the tide against the Taliban insurgents.

Afghan police and army forces, meanwhile, killed seven Taliban militants in two clashes in Kaltrash and Qerleq village in Archi district of the northern province of Kunduz on Friday night, Mohammad Razaq Yaqoubi, the provincial police chief, told the German Press Agency dpa.

Six other Taliban militants were wounded during the three-hour- operation, he said, adding that there were no casualties among the Afghan forces.

In eastern Afghanistan, a US-led airstrike killed "several militants at a mountaintop fighting position" in Paktika province on Friday, an ISAF statement said on Saturday.

"The security force targeted the militants after intelligence sources indicated they were in a remote area away from buildings and other structures," the statement said.

Soldier killed in Afghanistan explosion

 Sat Dec 19, 6:33 am ET

LONDON (AFP) –

A British soldier has died after being caught in an explosion while on foot patrol in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said Saturday.

The soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment was patrolling in the Nad-e-Ali area of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan when the explosion occurred. He died from his wounds.

The soldier's family have been informed.

A total of 240 British troops have now been killed in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001, and there have been 103 deaths in 2009, making it the deadliest year for the country's armed forces since the 1982 Falkland's War.

The majority of British fatalities have been caused by roadside bombs planted by the Taliban.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government has faced accusations that the 10,000 British troops in Afghanistan are poorly equipped.

The government this week announced 900 million pounds for new helicopters and equipment for the war, but said it would have to close a military base and cut staff to pay for it.