Four Nato soldiers have been killed in an insurgent attack in western Afghanistan, alliance officials say.
They were Italians, the defence ministry in Rome said.
Italian media reported that the four were killed and another wounded in an ambush in the Gulistan Valley in the western province of Farah as they were returning from a mission.
Italy has about 3,400 soldiers in Afghanistan, with the deployment set to grow to 4,000 by the end of the year.
The deaths brought the number of Italian soldiers killed in Afghanistan in the last six years to 34, of whom 21 have lost their lives in the past two years.
The ministry in Rome gave no details about the attack and did not confirm reports that a fifth soldier was wounded.
So far this month 24 Nato soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan.
More than 2,000 Nato service members have been killed there since the start of the war. in 2001.
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