At least five US soldiers were killed or wounded during the operations in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, the US military said Tuesday.

AVA- “One U.S. service member has died and four U.S. service members were wounded during a combat engagement in Achin, Nangarhar province Jan. 1. Two wounded service members are being treated at a nearby medical treatment facility and are in stable condition. The other service members have returned to duty,” according to a statement by the US forces in Afghanistan.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own,” said General John Nicholson, commander, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan. “At this very difficult time our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends of our fallen and wounded brothers.”

Nangarhar is among the relatively calm provinces in East of Afghanistan but the security situation of the province has started to deteriorate during the recent years.

At least seventy eight militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were killed or wounded during the joint airstrikes of the Afghan and US forces in this province earlier.

According to a statement by Nangarhar governor’s office, the airstrikes were carried out on Monday in Haska Mina district.

The statement further added that the militants were targeted in Gorgori, Shinkai, and Angor areas of the district, leaving sixty militants dead and eighteen others wounded.

Several light and heavy weapons including ammunition were also destroyed during the airstrike, the statement added.