US, French Soldiers Killed in Afghan Attacks
Amid escalating violence, three US troops and a French soldier were killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan on Saturday.
One French soldier was killed and two others wounded when a joint party comprising of nearly 230 US, French and Afghan soldiers came under fire from Taliban insurgents in the Kapisa province, northeast of Kabul.
“One French soldier was hit and died of the injury. Immediately the troops returned fire and counter-attacked the insurgents,” confirmed a statement issued by the French military.
“The fighting lasted one and a half hours and two other French soldiers were wounded. The insurgents eventually retreated,” it added.
Meanwhile, three other ISAF soldiers were killed in bomb blasts in southern Afghanistan, confirmed the alliance force.
“Three International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) service members were killed today after their patrol was struck by two improvised explosive devices in southern Afghanistan,” it said.
According to media reports, a US military spokesman in Kabul said that the three belonged to the US military and had died in the Kandahar province.
Violence is fast escalating as the country heads towards landmark presidential polls scheduled for August 20.
