7 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan
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U.S. soldiers operate in Afghanistan earlier this month.
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(CNN) -- A weapons cache exploded in southeastern Afghanistan, killing seven U.S. soldiers and wounding three others and an interpreter, U.S. Central Command has said.
Another soldier was listed as missing after the Thursday explosion, which occurred west of Ghazni. (Map)
"The soldiers were working around a weapons cache when the explosion occurred," a Central Command statement said.
The cause of the blast is under investigation.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to oust the Taliban, which had provided haven for al Qaeda before the September 11, 2001, attacks.
About 8,500 Americans are among the 11,500 international troops that remain in Afghanistan.
Separately, 5,000 troops under NATO command act as peacekeepers in the capital, Kabul.
A senior Defense Department official said this week that the U.S. military is planning a spring offensive against remnants of the Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan. (Full story)
Authorities have ordered troops, supplies and logistics into place to carry out the operation, the official said, without detailing whether the new offensive would require more troops.
