Bombing killed four U.S. Soldiers

KABUL, Afghanistan – A roadside bombing killed four U.S. soldiers- the first American combat deaths of the year in Afghanistan – while a British soldier died during a foot patrol  in the volatile south of Afghanistan.

A statement from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said the explosion that killed the U.S. service members took place Sunday in the south, but did not give further details on the location or the victims’ branch of service.

Afghan insurgents are increasingly turning to improvised explosive devices in their fight against Afghan and international forces. Of the 304 U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan last year, 129 were caused by IEDs, according to a tally by The Associated Press.

The deaths are the first U.S. fatalities from hostile action in Afghanistan this year. One U.S. service member died of noncombat causes so far in 2010.

The British soldier died while on foot patrol Sunday in Helmand province, the British Ministry of Defence said.

JIM HEINTZ, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS