KABUL, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Eight U.S. service members and one Afghan civilian were killed Tuesday in multiple IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attacks in southern Afghanistan, said a statement of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

    "Eight U.S. service members and an Afghan civilian working with the ISAF were killed today in multiple complex IED attacks in southern Afghanistan," the statement said.

A U.S. soldier from Stryker Brigade patrols in Kandahar city October 26, 2009

 It added "several service members were wounded in these incidents and were transported to a regional medical facility for treatment."

    Nearly 20 U.S. soldiers have been killed in two straight days in riot Afghanistan as three U.S. helicopters went down Monday, leaving 11 troopers and three civilians dead, all Americans.

    Conflicts and violence have claimed at least 436 international troops so far this year in war-torn Afghanistan.

U.S. Soldiers activate and destroy IEDs (improvised explosive device) laid by the Taliban near the village of Sha Mazar in Logar province September 26, 2009