2 US-led forces killed in Afghanistan

At least two foreign soldiers have been killed in a roadside bomb blast in the south of Afghanistan amid an upsurge in attacks against US-led forces.

According to a Press TV correspondent, the US-led forces confirmed in a statement that the two soldiers were killed on Tuesday but did not disclose their nationalities or the exact location of the incident.

Most of the foreign forces based in southern Afghanistan are American, British or Canadian.

Earlier, a Taliban spokesman claimed that ten foreign troops have been killed in clashes with militants. He said the fighting took place in the southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar.

The deaths bring the number of US-led forces killed in Afghanistan so far this year to 210. The rising foreign death toll in the war-torn country has slashed support for the Afghan war in both the US and Europe.

NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Mark Sedwill believes the US-led foreign forces in Afghanistan are likely to face record high casualties in 2010.

Thus far, 2009 has been the deadliest year for foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan, with a total of 520 US-led soldiers killed.

The United States plans to deploy 30,000 extra troops in Afghanistan by August.