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WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military command in Afghanistan says one U.S. service member has been killed and two others were wounded in fighting today in southern Afghanistan.
The fighting -- part of the intensified efforts by the U.S. and its Afghan partners to push back against recent Taliban gains -- was in Helmand province, which shares a border with Pakistan. The Taliban in recent weeks have focused their efforts on retaking parts of Helmand, and the U.S. has countered with special operations forces working with Afghan troops.
Two U.S. officials say the troops who were killed and wounded today were special operations forces.
A U.S. helicopter was sent to evacuate the casualties but did not immediately take off because of an unspecified problem.
%@AP Links
172-c-14-(Sagar Meghani (SAH'-gur meh-GAH'-nee), AP national security correspondent)-"the Taliban there"-AP National Security Correspondent Sagar Meghani reports the casualties came during fighting in a key Afghan province. (5 Jan 2016)
<<CUT *172 (01/05/16)££ 00:14 "the Taliban there"
171-c-21-(Sagar Meghani (SAH'-gur meh-GAH'-nee), AP national security correspondent)-"were special operators"-AP National Security Correspondent Sagar Meghani reports fighting in southern Afghanistan has killed an American service member and wounded two others. (5 Jan 2016)
<<CUT *171 (01/05/16)££ 00:21 "were special operators"
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