HERAT, Afghanistan, May 18 (UPI) -- A U.S. counternarcotics agent was killed in western Afghanistan during a suicide bombing, The New York Times reported Thursday online.
Two other Americans were wounded in the attack.
"We confirm that a U.S. citizen contractor for the State Department Bureau of International Narcotic and Law Enforcement, working for the police training program in Herat (in western Afghanistan near the Iranian border) was killed in a vehicle-borne I.E.D. attack," said Chris Harris, a U.S. Embassy spokesman.
The attack came amid escalating violence in Afghanistan were Taliban fighters have increasing attacks on U.S. and coalition forces.
Meanwhile, a female Canadian soldier was killed Wednesday in fighting outside the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, a stronghold for the Taliban movement.
