7 NATO troops killed in Afghanistan

NATO is reporting the deaths of at least seven of its soldiers in Afghanistan Saturday including six Americans and an Australian.

Saturday has proven to be a deadly day for NATO troops with the deaths of at least 7 soldiers including six Americans and an Australian. All seven of the troops were killed in separate attacks in the east and the south of the country. Xinhuanet is reporting that four Americans were killed in the Eastern Afghan provinces as a result of small-arms fire and IED attacks while two others died as a result of separate IED attacks in the southern part of the country according to a statement issued by NATO Saturday. "One ISAF service member died as a result of small-arms fire, another died following an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) strike, and a third service member died following an insurgent attack, in eastern Afghanistan today." The AP also reported that an Australian member of ISAF was killed in an IED explosion while on patrol - a second was injured. 23-year-old, Pvt. Nathan Bewes, was the 17th Australian soldier to die in the war and the 6th in just over a month. Germany says two of its troops were injured in a convoy attack in the northern province of Kunduz. Today's deaths bring the total for July to 30, all but 8 of which belonging to the American contingent. Last month saw the single bloodiest month for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) with 102 of its members perishing, including a record-high 60 Americans making 2010 the second deadliest year only behind 2009. The nearly decade-long war has claimed the lives of 1920 foreign troops. According to the U.N, 2009 was also the deadliest for Afghan civilians with an estimated death count of 2412 - the total count is believed to number in the tens of thousands. 17 Afghan civilians were also killed with dozens injured in a series of cross-country attacks including 11 Pakistani Shi'as who were gunned down by unknown assailants. The violence comes on the heels of a more intensified counter-offensive by the Taliban and their allies in response to an escalated campaign by NATO and Afghan troops.