THE TENSION: Wire: Updated - 2 US Marines Killed in Southern Afghanistan

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2009 -- Newswire services this afternoon revised earlier reports that bomb attacks had killed four U.S. troops in southern Afghanistan.

U.S. military changed an earlier report that four had died, saying a roadside bomb killed two U.S. Marines in southern Afghanistan.

The Associated Press noted the following details:

The two Marines were killed Saturday in Helmand. Military officials did not release any other details nor give a specific location. The military initially reported four Marines had died but later corrected the figure, saying the deaths were mistakenly double-counted.

The American casualties come after eight British deaths in Helmand in a 24-hour period ending Friday, triggering debate in Britain about its role in Afghanistan. Britain has now lost more troops in Afghanistan than in Iraq.