Insurgents kill NATO soldier in Afghanistan's east, raising year's toll to 100

[News_Editor]

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- A coalition service member was killed Tuesday when insurgents opened fire at foreign troops in eastern Afghanistan, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said. It raises the number of foreign troops killed in Afghanistan so far this year to 100.

ISAF said one of its service members was killed as a result of a "direct fire attack" in Afghanistan's eastern region, which is home to the country's capital. But because the multinational force defers the release of specific details to national authorities, no other details about the incident were available, including the exact location.

The nationality of the service member involved was also not immediately disclosed by ISAF, again per its policy. "It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities," ISAF said in a brief statement, giving no specific details. The alliance does also not disclose whether other service members were injured.

An ISAF spokesperson did not elaborate on the meaning of the term "direct fire attack," but confirmed it does not refer to a rocket or mortar attack. "ISAF and ANSF are currently assessing [the] attack in eastern Afghanistan," the spokesperson said. "It is ISAF's policy not to discuss operational security information during an ongoing investigation."

Tuesday's death raises the number of coalition troops killed in Afghanistan so far this year to 100, according to official figures. A total of 402 ISAF troops were killed in Afghanistan in 2012, down from 566 fatalities in 2011 and 711 in 2010. A majority of the fallen troops were American and were killed in the country's south, which is plagued by IED attacks on troops and civilians.

There are currently more than 100,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, including some 68,000 U.S. troops and 9,000 British soldiers. Approximately 3,800 British soldiers are expected to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2013, with all foreign combat troops due to leave by the end of 2014.

Last month, Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced the fifth and final phase of security transition in which coalition forces hand over control of the remaining 95 districts - including Taliban stronghold areas in the south and east - to Afghan security forces. ISAF will still be responsible for military air support as well as support in combat operations until the end of 2014.

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