NATO says one of its soldiers was killed during a firefight with Taleban militants Friday, bringing the number of NATO troop deaths this week to 12.
Friday's death in southern Afghanistan comes a day after two NATO soldiers were killed in separate roadside bombings. This week's casualties have made it one of the bloodiest for alliance troops serving in Afghanistan in months.
In another development, U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan say more than 35 suspected Taleban militants were killed in southern Helmand province Thursday during an intense battle involving U.S. warplanes.
Separately, the coalition says its troops killed three Taleban militants who ambushed a civilian helicopter after it made an emergency landing south of the capital, Kabul.
The coalition says late Thursday, U.S. and Afghan soldiers rescued five contractors onboard the helicopter, which had experienced mechanical problems.
The Taleban said they shot down the helicopter. There has been no independent confirmation of either account.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.