At least 2,070 US military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001

As of Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at least 2,070 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count.

The AP count is three less than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Tuesday at 10 a.m. EDT.

At least 1,716 military service members have died in Afghanistan as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

Outside of Afghanistan, the department reports at least 119 more members of the U.S. military died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Of those, 11 were the result of hostile action.

The AP count of total OEF casualties outside of Afghanistan is four more than the department's tally.

The Defense Department also counts three military civilian deaths.

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, 18,418 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department.

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The latest identifications reported by the military:

— Two soldiers died April 9 in Pachir Wa Agam District, Nangarhar province; they were assigned to the 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade, 28th Infantry Division, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.; killed were: Chief Warrant Officer Matthew P. Ruffner, 34, of Harrisburg, Pa., and Chief Warrant Officer Jarett M. Yoder, 26, of Mohnton, Pa.

— Three soldiers died April 6 in Kandahar of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit in Zabul with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device; they were assigned to the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; killed were: Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, 24, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Spc. Wilbel A. Robles-Santa, 25, of Juncos, Puerto Rico, and Spc. Delfin M. Santos Jr., 24, of San Jose, Calif.

— Capt. James Michael Steel, 29, of Tampa, Fla., died April 3 in the crash of an F-16 near Bagram Air Field; assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

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Online:

http://www.defense.gov/news