Italian Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Mortar Attack

An Italian soldier was killed and five others were wounded in an attack in Afghanistan on Saturday, the defense ministry said, bringing to 50 the number killed there.

The soldiers came under mortar attack in a base in Gulistan in an area under Italian control in the province of Herat, the ministry said in a statement.

Last month, three Italian soldiers were killed when their armored jeep overturned in a river in Herat as it raced to the rescue of another unit.

Italy has 3,800 soldiers in Afghanistan as part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force but plans to reduce its deployment starting this year.

A total 50 Italian soldiers have been killed in combat or died in accidents in Afghanistan, according to an Agence France Presse count.