1 U.S. service member killed, 2 wounded in Afghanistan
Afghan security forces patrol near their base in the Marjah district of Helmand Province on December 23, 2015. On Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, one American service member was killed and two wounded in the district.
One American service member was killed and two wounded Tuesday in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said in a statement.
The service member died “as a result of wounds sustained during operations near Marjah,” a district in the southern province of Helmand that has been the scene of heavy fighting in recent weeks between coalition forces and Taliban insurgents.
The U.S. military did not immediately release details of the incident.
See more of our top stories on Facebook >>
“We are deeply saddened by this loss,” U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Wilson A. Shoffner, spokesman for the U.S.-led military coalition, said in a statement.
Helmand has by far been the deadliest province for U.S. troops since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. Last month, the Pentagon deployed special forces soldiers to Helmand to assist Afghan forces in trying to beat back a Taliban advance that has claimed several of the province’s districts.
Times staff writer W.J. Hennigan in Washington contributed to this report.
ALSO
Kuwait recalls ambassador to Tehran amid Saudi-Iran tension
Israel indicts Jewish extremists in deadly arson attack
Donald Trump clip is featured in recruitment video released by Al Qaeda affiliate
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
