3 international troops killed in Afghanistan

By the CNN Wire Staff

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

There was an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan
Last month was the deadliest for U.S. troops
NATO is starting to draw down its troops

(CNN) -- Three NATO-led service members died following an insurgent attack Friday in eastern Afghanistan, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.

Their nationalities have not been released, and the precise location of the incident was not disclosed.

They are among eight service members who have died in Afghanistan this month. Of the five other deaths, three are Americans, one is Danish and another is French.

August was the deadliest month for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since the conflict began nearly 10 years ago.

Seventy-one American troops died in August, topping July 2010, when 65 troops died, according to a CNN tally.

Many deaths took place on August 6 when insurgents shot down a helicopter in the eastern central province of Wardak.

Thirty U.S. service members -- including 17 Navy SEALs -- were killed in that attack, the single largest loss of life for U.S. troops since the Afghan war began in 2001.

The Taliban claimed militants downed the helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade.

The surge in U.S. deaths comes as NATO is drawing down and handing over security control to national forces. Some 10,000 U.S. troops are scheduled to depart by year's end, with all U.S. military personnel out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014.