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(Jared J. Duhon/U.S. Air Force)

A U.S. servicemember was killed in combat in Afghanistan on Thursday, NATO and U.S. officials said.

The incident is under investigation, NATO Resolute Support officials said Thursday. They did not release any further details.

“We mourn and honor the sacrifice of our servicemember,” said Gen. Scott Miller, Resolute Support and United States Forces – Afghanistan commander, in a statement. “We remain committed.”

Gen. Joseph Votel, head of Central Command, told reporters Thursday during a Pentagon teleconference that the death was “not the result of anything else you’ve seen,” after being asked whether the death possibly involved an insider attack.

“The initial reports that I’ve seen is that this was a result of combat action,” Votel said.

The name of the servicemember is being withheld until 24 hours after the notification of next of kin.

This is the eighth U.S. fatality in Afghanistan this year. Three coalition troops from the Czech Republic also have been killed.

Last year, 15 U.S. troops were killed in the country.

There are about 14,000 American servicemembers in Afghanistan, most of whom serve with NATO’s train, advise and assist mission. A smaller portion are involved with the U.S.’s separate counterterrorism mission that targets groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaida.

news@stripes.com

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