9 police, U.S. service member die in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan — At least nine police officers were killed Saturday in separate attacks by Taliban insurgents on police checkpoints in eastern Ghazni province, a provincial official said, and the U.S. military said a service member died from injuries suffered in a helicopter crash in the east.

Arif Noori, spokesman for the provincial governor, said two police checkpoints came under attack by Taliban fighters in the early hours leaving nine police officers dead and two more wounded. He said six insurgents were killed and nine others were wounded in the battle, which lasted almost an hour.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, according to its spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. He said 14 police officers were killed, including both commanders of the checkpoints.

Afghan forces have struggled to combat a resurgent Taliban since U.S. and NATO forces formally concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014, switching to a counterterrorism and support role.

In eastern Logar province, a U.S. service member died from injuries suffered in a helicopter crash late Friday, a statement from the U.S. military said. Six other U.S. crew members were injured in the crash and were receiving medical treatment, it said.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our comrade,” said U.S. Gen. John Nicholson, commander of Resolute Support in Afghanistan. “On behalf of all of Resolute Support, our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends of our fallen comrade and those injured in this unfortunate event.”

The statement said the crash was not the result of enemy action. “We have full accountability of all personnel, and the crash site has been secured,” the statement said.

Later in the day, the military sent out another statement announcing the service member’s death and saying that the circumstances of the crash were under investigation.

Earlier, Salim Saleh, spokesman for the provincial governor in Logar, said a military helicopter made an emergency landing as it was taking off and hit a tree.

He said the helicopter was supporting an operation to eliminate insurgents from Karwar district.

A spokesman for police in Logar province said one member of the Afghan special forces was also wounded in the crash.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, claimed that Taliban fighters shot down the helicopter in Karwar district.

Under its new strategy, the Trump administration has promised to send more military advisers and trainers to Afghanistan: Fewer than 9,000 have been publicly declared to be present, but the number may be closer to 12,000.

This was the 12th U.S. service member to have died in Afghanistan this year, according to a tally by the website iCasualties. Altogether, more than 2,400 U.S. service members have died in the Afghanistan war since 2001. Information for this article was contributed by Mujib Mashal of The New York Times, and by staff members of The Associated Press.