KABUL (BNO NEWS) — Two coalition soldiers died in two separate incidents in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, the NATO-led ISAF alliance said. The fatalities are the first NATO casualties since the start of Operation Moshtarak.

One American service member died from small-arms fire in the southern part of the country, according to U.S. Master Sergeant Jeffery Loftin. The British Ministry of Defence confirmed one of its soldiers had also been killed. NATO said both soldiers died during Operation Moshtarak.

“It with the deepest sadness that I must confirm a British fatality during the clear phase of Operation Moshtarak,” said Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand. “It happened this morning when a soldier from 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards was killed by an explosion in Nad-e-Ali District, Helmand Province.”

“A British soldier who has made the ultimate sacrifice doing his duty as part of this operation to clear the insurgents away from the people of Nad-e-Ali; his selfless commitment and courage will not be forgotten,” Wakefield added.

NATO officials had earlier said that the soldier who died from small-arms fire was not from the United States, but the alliance later changed its position. A spokesman said no other details would be released pending notification of next of kin.

Earlier on Saturday, three American troops were killed in a bomb attack in the country’s Kandahar province. NATO said that incident was not related to Operation Moshtarak.

The latest fatalities bring the number of international troops killed in Afghanistan this year to 64, according to a BNO News count.