[NYTr] Deadliest year: 6 US troops die in Afghan ambush

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

CNN - Nov 10, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/10/afghanistan.nato.clashes/index.html

6 U.S. troops die in Afghan ambush

(CNN) -- Six American forces serving under NATO's International
Security Assistance Force were killed in an insurgent ambush while
patrolling in eastern Afghanistan, a NATO spokesman told CNN on
Saturday.

 Friday's deaths make this year the deadliest since the 2001 invasion
for U.S. military personnel. In addition, eight other NATO soldiers
were wounded. It was not immediately clear whether those were Americans.

The U.S. troops were on joint-foot patrol with Afghan National Army
soldiers -- three of whom were killed and 11 who were wounded, NATO
said.

The combined forces came under fire from small arms and
rocket-propelled grenades during the "ambush."

In response, NATO said forces fired back with small-arms, machine guns,
mortars, artillery and close-air support.

 At least one insurgent was killed in the clashes.

So far this year 100 U.S. military personnel have died due mainly to
insurgency-related violence, according to a CNN count based on figures
from the U.S.-led NATO and Coalition. That number surpasses the
previous high of 94 U.S. military deaths in 2005.