Insurgents capture U.S. soldier in Afghanistan

Officials say serviceman has been missing since June 30

updated 7 minutes ago
KABUL - An American soldier has been captured in eastern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

Officials said the soldier had been missing since June 30 and is "now believed to have been captured by militant forces".

NBC News reported that the Taliban claimed to have captured three U.S. soldiers in the eastern province of Khost on the border with Pakistan. However, the report was unconfirmed.

The announcement came as thousands of U.S. Marines and hundreds of Afghan troops poured into Taliban-infested villages of southern Afghanistan with armor and helicopters in he first major operation under President Barack Obama's strategy to stabilize the country.

The offensive was launched shortly after 1 a.m. local time in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold and the world's largest opium poppy producing area. The goal is to clear insurgents from the hotly contested region before the nation's Aug. 20 presidential election.

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