US soldier killed in anti-IS action in Afghanistan

KABUL: An American Special Forces soldier has been killed while conducting operations against the Islamic State group in Afghanistan, the US military said.

The US-backed Afghan military has vowed to wipe out the group in its strongholds in the eastern province of Nangarhar as IS challenges the more powerful Taliban on its own turf.

"A US soldier was killed in action while conducting operations against ISIS-Khorasan in (Nangarhar) Afghanistan," US Navy Captain Bill Salvin said on Twitter, referring to a regional affiliate of the jihadist group.

The identity of the soldier, killed late on Saturday, was not revealed. "On behalf of all of US Forces-Afghanistan, I offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our fallen comrade," General John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, said in a statement. "We will always remember our fallen comrades and commit ourselves to deliver on their sacrifice," Nicholson added.