Four American troops have were killed on Monday when a U.S. Humvee struck a roadside bomb while on patrol in the Uruzgan province of Afghanistan.
At the time of the attack, the American troops were on patrol with Afghan National Army forces. After the bomb exploded, the patrol came under attack via small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades.
American troops responded by calling in attack helicopters and fighter planes according to U.S. military sources.
'This is a sad and tragic day for us all,' said Brigadier General John Sterling, a U.S. commander in a statement.
The four deaths made today the deadliest day for American troops in Afghanistan since last September.
The total number of troops killed in Afghanistan since the U.S. involvement began there in late 2001 is now 214.
The identity of the dead has not been made public pending the notification of their families.
