One US service member killed, two wounded in Afghanistan

One U.S. service member was killed, and two others were wounded in fighting in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, a senior U.S. defense official said. 

The fighting, which reflects intensified efforts by the U.S. and its Afghan partners to roll back recent Taliban gains, was near the city of Marja, in Helmand province, which shares a border with Pakistan.

The Taliban in recent weeks have focused their efforts on retaking parts of Helmand, and the U.S. has countered with special operations forces working with Afghan troops.

Details on the battle were sketchy.

The U.S. military command in Kabul said that one service member died of wounds sustained "during operations" in Marja and that two were wounded. The statement did not identify their service branch. Two U.S. officials said they were special operation troops.

"We are deeply saddened by this loss," said Brig. Gen. Wilson A. Shoffner, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Speaking for Gen. John Campbell, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Shoffner said, "our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends of those involved."

A U.S. helicopter was sent to evacuate the casualties but did not immediately take off because of an unspecified problem.

In Kabul, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Ron Flesvig, said the helicopter sent to evacuate the casualties landed with a mechanical problem.

Al Jazeera and The Associated Press