KABUL, Afghanistan 

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for Wednesday's killing of two U.S. soldiers in northern Afghanistan.

Zabihullah Mujahed, the group's spokesman, said in an online statement they had killed four U.S. soldiers and six local security forces in Faryab province bordering Turkmenistan.

Meanwhile, the NATO-led Resolute Mission in Afghanistan has only confirmed the killing of two U.S. service members. "In accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy, the names of the service members killed in action are being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete," said the statement by the mission last evening.

The attack came as the U.S. resumed the 9th round of talks with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday.

This latest casualty brings the total number of U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan this year to 16.