One American service member was killed and two U.S. service members were wounded during counter-terrorism operations near Marjah in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, the Pentagon said.
American defense officials earlier told NBC News that U.S. Special Operations Forces were involved in an operation when they came under attack.
According to officials, U.S. Special Operations Forces had been involved in a counter-terrorism operation against enemy forces near Marjah. A U.S. medevac helicopter had been called in to recover the casualties but it came under mortar and small arms fire and was disabled, one defense official told NBC News.
Its not clear whether the helicopter was struck by enemy fire and whether any U.S. forces suffered casualties there, or only in the counter-terrorism operation.
U.S.-backed forces have been battling the Taliban in Marjah. A spokesman for the Taliban — which frequently exaggerates its claims — said Tuesday the group had shot down a U.S. transport helicopter in Helmand.
