BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Nine U.S. soldiers were killed in fighting in Afghanistan which also claimed the lives of “dozens” of Taliban insurgents, a NATO official said on Sunday.

“It was in Kunar province, it was during an all-day engagement,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said of fighting in eastern Afghanistan bordering Pakistan.

The official said eight of the nine were with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the other soldier was under the command of a separate U.S.-led force.