One US Service Member Killed, Another Wounded in Afghanistan

One U.S. soldier has been killed and another wounded in eastern Afghanistan.

A statement released by U.S. Army officials says insurgents attacked a group of American engineers with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades near a road construction project in the eastern Paktika province.

The statement says the wounded service member has been taken to a nearby U.S. base for medical treatment.

The latest American casualties come amidst an upsurge of violence ahead of the September 18 parliamentary elections. Hundreds of people have died in militant-related violence so far this year.

Earlier this week, 16 suspected Taleban militants and one U.S. soldier were killed.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.