SIX NATO-led soldiers and three Afghan troops were killed in heavy fighting in eastern Afghanistan, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said today.
Another eight ISAF soldiers and 11 Afghan troops were wounded in the battle yesterday which erupted after the forces were ambushed, the ISAF said.
The death toll was one of the highest in a single incident for foreign soldiers helping Afghan forces fight an insurgency led by the extremist Taliban movement, which was in government between 1996 and 2001.
It took the number of foreign soldiers killed in Afghanistan this year to 200, according to an AFP count based on official statements.
The soldiers were on a foot patrol when they were attacked from several positions by insurgents armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades, ISAF said.
"The combined force repelled the insurgent attack with small-arms, machine guns, mortars, artillery, and close-air support," it said. The remains of one insurgent were discovered afterwards.
The 37-nation ISAF does not release the nationalities of its casualties, leaving this up to their home nations. Most of the foreign troops in eastern Afghanistan are US nationals.