American, Afghan Die in Roadside Bombing

A roadside bomb killed an American soldier and an Afghan soldier Wednesday in eastern Afghanistan, and a second U.S. service member died when his armored vehicle overturned in the southern province of Kandahar, the U.S. military said.

Two other U.S. troops were wounded in the roadside bombing near Asadabad. “An improvised explosive device struck their vehicle,” said Capt. Dwayne Wirfel, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Afghanistan.

A Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammed Yousuf, claimed responsibility for the attack in Kunar province, which borders Pakistan.

Provincial Gov. Asadullah Wafa said the bomb had been detonated by remote control.

Scores of militants are believed to hide out in Kunar. Some of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces this year have occurred in the province. In June, suspected Taliban rebels shot down a special forces helicopter, resulting in the deaths of 16 troops, after killing four American commandos on the ground.

More than 80 American troops have died in Afghanistan this year, the bloodiest period for U.S. forces since they led the overthrow of the Taliban regime in late 2001.

The U.S. military said that “enemy activity was not a factor” in the death of the service member who was killed in the vehicle accident. Four people were injured.

The names of the victims were not immediately released.