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1st LD Writethru: U.S. service member dies in S. Afghanistan

Xinhua, August 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

A U.S. service member died as a result of wounds in the beleaguered Helmand province in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, said a statement of NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) mission released here.

"One U.S. service member died as a result of wounds sustained during operations near Lashkar Gar in Helmand Province today," the statement said.

Another U.S. member was wounded and is currently in stable condition, the statement added. It confirmed that additionally six Afghan soldiers were also wounded during the operations.

"We are deeply saddened by this loss, but remain committed to helping our Afghan partners provide a brighter future for themselves and their children," said General John W. Nicholson, commander of USFOR-A and Resolute Support mission in the statement.

Casualties of U.S. military has been reported amid ongoing fierce fighting between government forces and the Taliban militants for the control of the troubled Helmand province notorious for growing poppy and militancy.

Without giving more details, the statement added that "U.S. Department of Defense Policy is to withhold the identity of the service member pending next-of-kin notification."

More than 13,000 U.S. and allied forces, reportedly have been serving in Afghanistan within the framework of NATO-led Resolute Support mission to help, train and give advices to Afghan forces.

Taliban militants have intensified operations in several parts of the restive Helmand province over the past couple of months to capture provincial capital Lashkar Gah, a key town in the southern region.

A spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan Gen. Charles Cleveland said on Monday that some 100 U.S. troops have been deployed to Helmand province to help Afghan forces in suppressing Taliban-led militancy there. Endit