At least one U.S. service member has been killed and two others have been wounded after coming under attack during a counter-terrorism operation in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military says.
The incident happened on Tuesday when U.S. Special Forces came under heavy mortar and small arms fire during an operation near Marjah in Helmand province, NBC News reported, citing U.S. officials.
U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) confirmed that one American service member had been killed and that two others were wounded. The identities of those killed have not yet been released pending next-of-kin notification.
Marjah is about 590 kilometers (366 miles) southwest of the capital Kabul.
“We are deeply saddened by this loss,” said Brig. Gen. Wilson A. Shoffner, a spokesman for USFOR-A. “On behalf of General Campbell and all of USFOR-A, our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends of those involved.”
In a separate incident, a U.S. medevac helicopter was forced to make a landing in Marjah after experiencing a mechanical malfunction while responding to the attack. There were no casualties as a result of the forced landing.
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