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Three US soldiers killed in Afghanistan

01 June 2011 03:47 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Three US soldiers have been killed in eastern Afghanistan in an improvised explosive device attack, the US military says, APA reports quoting Press TV.

The US military announced the deaths on Tuesday, saying the incident happened over the weekend but provided no additional information about the victim’s identities or where the attack had taken place, AFP reported.

Attacks on NATO forces in Afghanistan have increased since the Taliban started the spring season offensive. Militants carry out more attacks during spring and summer.

The Taliban recently stepped up attacks on US-led foreign soldiers after vowing to avenge the death of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

Earlier on Tuesday, one Czech soldier serving with the US-led forces was killed in a bomb attack in the eastern province of Wardak.

US President Barack Obama has pledged to begin a drawdown of US troops in July 2011, without exactly saying how many soldiers will be pulled out

However, Britain’s senior commander in Afghanistan, Lieutenant-General James Bucknall, says the current number of forces should be kept for the next two â€œfighting seasons.â€

Bucknall stated that the withdrawal of forces should start with support staff.

A spokesman for Britain’s Ministry of Defense has said there will be no reduction in the number of British forces in Afghanistan until they see â€œsufficient and lasting security.â€

Casualties among Afghan civilians have been on the rise recently despite the presence of nearly 150,000 foreign troops.