NATO says 3 American troops killed by roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan

3 US troops killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan — The international force in Afghanistan says three American troops have been killed by a roadside bomb in the violence-wracked south.

A NATO statement says two troops died immediately after the blast Tuesday. A third died later that day. NATO said all three were Americans but gave no other details.

Southern Afghanistan is one of the Taliban’s strongest areas of influence. Violence there is increasing as thousands of American soldiers arrive to try to establish Afghan government control.

Roadside bombs are a leading cause of casualties in Afghanistan. Last month was the deadliest for international forces in the nearly nine-year-old war, with 103 killed, including 60 Americans.