For US Forces in Afghanistan, August Deadliest Month Yet

With 66 American troops killed in Afghanistan so far in August, this month has been the deadliest for US forces since the war began in 2001, reports the AP. Before this August, the deadliest month had been July 2010, when 65 US soldiers died. Nearly half of this month's deaths come from the 30 who were killed when a helicopter was shot down by the Taliban on August 6. In addition to the American casualties, 13 coalition troops were killed in August. So far in 2011, 299 US troops have died in Afghanistan, along with 103 members of the coalition. (More Afghanistan stories.)