An attack on an observation post killed an American soldier, the third U.S. fatality this week in Afghanistan, the military said Wednesday, amid a flurry of attacks that wounded over a dozen Americans in the run-up to the Oct. 9 presidential election. The soldier died when attackers fired on his observation post on Monday in Khost province, the U.S. Department of Defense said. He was identified as Spc. Wesley R. Wells, 21, of Libertyville, Ill.
| Just a few miles away from where I sit. |
The military had already announced the death of two U.S. troops Monday in another incident - an attack in neighboring Paktika province. The two were killed by mortar fire when a ``large force of anti-coalition militants'' attacked a security patrol in Paktika. Six Afghan soldiers were wounded. The Department of Defense identified them as Staff Sgt. Robert S. Goodwin, 35, of Albany, Ga., and Staff Sgt. Tony B. Olaes, 30, of Walhalla, S.C. The U.S.-led force called in A-10 ground-attack aircraft and a B-1 bomber, which dropped two 500-pound bombs on the attackers. At least nine militants were killed, said Maj. Scott Nelson, a military spokesman. U.S.-led troops clashed with militants in eight separate locations Monday, he said. A total of 14 Americans were injured and one Afghan soldier was listed as missing, he said. |