Five Afghan soldiers and up to 20 extremists were killed in an ambush in south-east Afghanistan on Sunday, the US-led coalition said. Six Afghan soldiers were also wounded in the ambush when extremists attacked their command post with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades in the Bermel district of Paktika province, the coalition said in a statement.
Three of the wounded soldiers suffered only minor injuries and returned to duty after being treated on the scene, the statement said.
The three others were evacuated by air to a hospital run by the coalition.
The country has suffered a surge in violence by remnants of the ousted Taliban whose regime was toppled by a US-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001.
Afghan forces and a US-led coalition have extended their presence in the country's east since a Nato-led International Security Assistance Force took command of military operations in the restive south on July 31.
Since the beginning of the year, more than 70 foreign soldiers and scores of Afghan soldiers have died in action in Afghanistan.
There are roughly 40,000 troops from around 40 countries in Afghanistan.
A coalition spokesman said Sunday local and coalition forces would continue to provide security and assistance to Afghan people in the area despite the latest attack.
"Steady progress is being made, and we will continue together to pursue the enemy wherever they try to hide," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Paul Fitzpatrick said.
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