2 US troops die in insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan

2 Americans killed in southern Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan — Two Americans died in fighting Friday in southern Afghanistan, raising to 33 the number of U.S. troops killed in the war so far this month.

NATO said Friday that the two died in an insurgent attack but did not provide further details.

June is shaping up to be one of the deadliest months for U.S. troops in the nearly 9-year-old Afghan war, as insurgents have stepped up attacks in response to a NATO push into Taliban strongholds in the south.The deadliest month for U.S. troops in Afghanistan was October 2009, when 59 Americans died.

In all, some 50 international troops have been killed in the country so far this month. The deadliest month of the war for international forces was in July 2009 when 75 troops, including 44 Americans, were killed.