Wire: 3 US Troops Killed by Attacks in East Afghanistan

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that three American servicemembers were killed by attacks in eastern Afghanistan, the military said Saturday, adding to the toll as the Obama administration continues to ponder its strategy in the war.

The Associated Press reported that two of the Americans were killed Friday in a firefight with militants in Wardak, an eastern province bordering Kabul. The third service member died Friday of wounds from a bomb attack in Wardak the day before. The newly reported deaths came the same day as a suicide attack on a U.S. convoy in the south killed two Americans.

U.S. and NATO deaths dropped in September over the previous two months -- possibly due to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan or because no major offensives were launched. But since President Barack Obama's decision to send 21,000 more troops to curb the growing Taliban-led insurgency, international and civilian tolls have risen steadily.

(Report from newswire sources.)