Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 19 (UPI) -- An explosion in Afghanistan's Baluchi Valley killed an Australian soldier and wounded four other people, including a child, military officials said Sunday.

The solider killed Saturday was the 11th Australian soldier to lose his life during the eight-year conflict, the Australian Department of Defense said.

The solider died during a search operation in Uruzgan province when an anti-personnel device exploded, Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

The blast injured a second Australian soldier and three civilians, including an 8-year-old boy, Houston said.

So far this month, there have been a total of 52 military deaths in Afghanistan -- the highest monthly death toll since the war began in 2001, CNN reported.