2 US service members killed in Afghanistan after Pompeo visit

Two U.S. military service members were killed Wednesday in Afghanistan, NATO announced. 

Officials in a statement did not share details about the service members or the circumstances of their deaths.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, however, said the service members were killed in an ambush in the Wardak Province of the country, The New York Times reported.

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The deaths occurred a day after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, where he said the U.S. has made “real progress” in Afghan peace talks with the Taliban, CNN reported.

Pompeo told reporters Tuesday that the U.S. is prepared to remove troops from the country, according to the cable network.

“We’ve made clear to the Taliban that we’re prepared to remove our forces, I want to be clear, we’ve not yet agreed on a timeline to do so,” Pompeo said.

Another round of talks is scheduled between the U.S. and the Taliban starting Saturday, according to the Times.

The deaths bring the total number of American military casualties in Afghanistan this year to nine.