American service member killed in Afghanistan

KABUL — The U.S. military says an American service member has been killed in Afghanistan’s Taliban-heavy south.

The service member was a part of the NATO force in this country.

A press release Thursday says the death occurred as the result of “a direct fire attack.”

Authorities did not identify the victim or give more specifics about where the incident occurred.

U.S. spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker confirmed that the deceased was an American.