U.S. soldier dies in ambush as Afghan combat heats up

KABUL, Afghanistan — An American soldier was killed and three U.S. troops were wounded when insurgents ambushed a patrol yesterday in eastern Afghanistan — the third deadly attack on U.S. forces in the border region in a week.

Seven rebels were killed in the ambush of U.S.-led coalition and Afghan forces in Paktika province, a U.S. military statement said. The rebels fled and American forces pursued them with attack aircraft in pursuit.

Fighting in Paktika has killed five U.S. troops in the past week. The province is next to the Pakistani border and insurgents based in tribal regions on the other side of the mountainous frontier often cross into Afghanistan to launch attacks. Seventeen suspected Taliban fighters were reported captured in the area Monday.

Two U.S. soldiers wounded in yesterday's attack were taken to a nearby base for treatment while the third was treated and returned to duty, the military statement said.

The death brought to 149 the number of U.S. military personnel killed in and around Afghanistan since the Taliban were driven from power in 2001.

There has been a sharp rise in bombings, shootings and other violence since winter's snow melted in mountain passes used by insurgents. Security forces have hit back hard, killing more than 200 suspected militants since March, U.S. and Afghan officials say.