French soldier shot dead in northeast Afghanistan

French soldier shot dead in northeast Afghanistan

2011-09-08 05:59:07 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- A French paratrooper was shot dead during an operation in northeastern Afghanistan on Wednesday morning, the French presidential palace Elysee said in a statement.

Elysee said the lieutenant was shot dead by an insurgent during an operation in support of the Afghan army in Kapisa province. "[French president Sarkozy] conveys his sincere condolences to his family and loved ones and shares their pain," the statement added, without giving other details.

Coalition casualties in Afghanistan have been rising sharply in recent years, with a total coalition death toll of 709 in 2010, making it the deadliest year for international troops since the war began in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

There are currently more than 130,000 ISAF troops in Afghanistan, including more than 3,900 French soldiers. Sarkozy previously announced to withdraw all its soldiers from Afghanistan by 2014.

So far this year, at least 422 coalition service members have been killed in Afghanistan. Most troops are American and are killed in the country's south, which is plagued by IED attacks on troops and civilians. The deadliest incident happened last month when a U.S. helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 U.S. troops, seven Afghan troops and an Afghan interpreter.

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