US: 2 NATO troops killed in NATO offensive in southern Afghanistan
By APSaturday, February 13, 2010
2 NATO troops die in south Afghan offensive
KABUL — The U.S. military says two NATO troops have been killed during a major coalition offensive in southern Afghanistan.
A NATO statement said Saturday that one service member died in an IED strike, while another died from small-arms fire. It did not give their nationalities.
U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Todd Vician said the deaths occurred in Helmand province and were related to the ongoing offensive aimed at breaking the Taliban grip over a wide area of their southern heartland.
They are the first reported coalition casualties of the offensive, the biggest since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.
It is the first major combat operation since President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 U.S. reinforcements here to try to turn the tide of the war. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
KABUL (AP) — The U.S. military says two NATO troops have been killed during a major coalition offensive in southern Afghanistan.
A NATO statement said Saturday that one service member died in an IED strike, while another died from small-arms fire. It did not give their nationalities.
U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Todd Vician said the deaths occurred in Helmand province and were related to the ongoing offensive aimed at breaking the Taliban grip over a wide area of their southern heartland.
They are the first reported coalition casualties of the offensive, the biggest since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.
It is the first major combat operation since President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 U.S. reinforcements here to try to turn the tide of the war.
