One US service member was killed and two wounded in an operation near Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province, a Nato defence official said Tuesday.
“We are deeply saddened by this loss,” said Brigadier General Wilson A.
Shoffner, a spokesman for the NATO mission in Afghanistan, adding “our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends of those involved”.
Nato added the US troops were conducting a mission in support of their Afghan counterparts.
Helmand is a traditional stronghold of Taliban insurgents.
Afghan troops were also wounded Tuesday during the special forces mission in Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province, a US defense official said.
A military helicopter that landed at the scene to carry out medical evacuations was grounded after a mortar exploded nearby. Crews were inspecting it for damage.
Colonel Michael Lawhorn, a military spokesman for the NATO mission in Afghanistan, confirmed a US helicopter had landed in Marjah and was experiencing “mechanical problems. “ “It was not shot down,” he said.
A second defense official, again speaking on condition of anonymity, said the affected helicopter is a UH-60 Black Hawk.
One U.S. service member died and two others were wounded during operations in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, the Pentagon said.
The Department of Defense did not name the casualties, saying only that the incident took place near Marjah in Helmand Province.
"We are deeply saddened by this loss," U.S. Brig. Gen. Wilson Shoffner said in a statement.
American defense officials earlier told NBC News that U.S. Special Operations Forces were involved in a counter-terrorism operation in the Marjah area of Helmand province when they came under attack.
A U.S. medevac chopper called in to recover casualties then came under mortar and small-arms fire, the officials added. It was not clear if the helicopter had been hit by enemy fire or whether any casualties were sustained in that landing zone, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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