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2 troops dead in Afghanistan blast

KABUL — A blast in eastern Afghanistan killed two American troops and wounded four others Saturday, a U.S. military spokeswoman said.

The troops were attacked in eastern Paktika province, but there were no immediate details about the incident, said Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker.

The deaths come as thousands of Marines in southern Afghanistan are involved in the biggest U.S. military operation here since the American-led invasion of 2001, trying to cut insurgent supply lines and win over local elders.

U.S. troops continued looking for an American soldier believed captured by insurgents in Paktika province, Navy Chief Petty Officer Brian Naranjo said Friday. The soldier and three Afghans with him went missing Tuesday.

There was no immediate public claim of responsibility from any insurgent group.

The Taliban, who have made a violent comeback following their initial defeat in the 2001 U.S. invasion, have stepped up attacks in former strongholds of eastern and southern Afghanistan.

Responding to a deteriorating security situation, President Barack Obama’s administration has ordered 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan and expects the total number of U.S. forces there to reach 68,000 by year’s end.

That is double the number of troops in Afghanistan in 2008 but still half as many as are now in Iraq.