Two US troops have been killed in a clash with guerrilla fighters northwest of Shkin in Afghanistan, the US military said today.
The military's Central Command said in a statement that the two were among three American soldiers wounded in today's clash in Paktia Province. The three were evacuated to a medical facility where two of them later died and one remained in stable condition.
Central Command said four "enemy fighters" were killed in the 90-minute firefight. The names of the dead and injured US troops were withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The clash occurred as Taliban fighters were said to be putting up stiff resistance today as Afghan and US forces continued to hunt them down in the southern province of Azbul backed by artillery, jet fighters and attack helicopters. That battle was in its seventh day and the ousted Islamic militia was reported to have suffered more than 90 losses since Monday.
The Central Command said that the three US troops were wounded when their element came in contact with "enemy fighters" at 1 a.m. (local time) approximately five miles northeast of Shkin.
"The US forces were conducting a combat mission in the vicinity of a firebase near Shkin when the engagement occurred. All three soldiers were evacuated by helicopter to medical facilities," the Central Command said.
"A quick reaction force responded from Shkin firebase and close air support was requested. Two A-10 Thunderbolt jets were launched from Bagram airbase, however, no ordnance was expended."
The statement said that the size of the guerrilla force was not known and that US troops broke off the fighting after about an hour and a-half.