US service member killed in Afghanistan: NATO mission

KABUL, Afghanistan

A U.S. service member was killed in an action in Afghanistan on Monday, an official statement confirmed.

“In accordance with the U.S. Department of Defense policy, the name of the service member killed in action was being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete,” said the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahed claimed the insurgents killed the U.S. service member in the northern province of Kunduz.

Monday’s death brought the number of U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan this year to 20.

It came amid ongoing rejuvenated yet fragile peace talks between the Taliban and the U.S. in the Qatari capital, Doha.

Two U.S. service members were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Nov. 20, a day after a prison swap between the U.S. and the Taliban.

U.S. President Donald Trump canceled crucial peace talks with the Taliban over the killing of an American soldier in the capital Kabul in September before resuming the latest round of talks.