KABUL, Afghanistan — An American soldier was killed and two others were wounded in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, the United States military said in a statement on Wednesday. Private Kirkpatrick became the eighth American service member to die in Afghanistan so far this year, according to the site iCasualties, which tracks military casualties. Around 8,800 American troops are now in Afghanistan, serving a dual mission of training and advising Afghan forces against a resurgent Taliban and carrying out counterterrorism missions. The insurgents have pushed as far as the gates of the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, which is protected by a heavy belt of security. Nawa District, just outside Lashkar Gah, fell to the Taliban last year, and the Afghan forces advised by the Marines have been preparing an operation to retake the district.

Source: New York Times July 05, 2017 20:25 UTC