3 NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan

KABUL, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Militancy and hostile fire have left three soldiers of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) dead in Afghanistan, a press release of the alliance said Saturday.

"Two International Security Assistance Force service members were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) strike on Oct.9, in eastern Afghanistan," the press release added.

Nevertheless, it did not identify the nationality of the two dead soldiers, adding the third soldier died on the same day on Friday is an American national.

"On the same day, one U.S. service member died of wounds sustained in an IED attack in southern Afghanistan," it stressed.

The military alliance also said that a joint operation, launched by ISAF and Afghan security forces, has led to the arrest of 10 militants in Pul-e-Alam, capital city of southern Logar province.

"The search was conducted without incident, and no Afghan civilians were injured during the operation," it added.

Conflicts and violence have claimed at least 406 foreign soldiers, including 240 from the U.S., so far this year in war-torn Afghanistan.