Nine American troops were killed in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan today, making this year the deadliest one of the conflict for foreign troops, reports NBC. Some 529 foreign fighters have been killed in the country so far, compared to 521 in 2009, the previous deadliest year. The American death toll is now 351.
A Taliban spokesman says insurgents shot down the helicopter, though NATO says there were no reports of enemy fire. It remains under investigation. Another service member from the NATO-led force, an Afghan soldier, and an American civilian were injured, AP reports. The crash occurred in northwestern Zabul province.
(More NATO stories.)