NATO: Bomb blast kills 2 troops

explosive device,but provided no further details. The

nationalities of NATO deaths are not generally released until

after the next of kin have been contacted.

This year is already the deadliest of the war,with more

than 530 international forces killed.

NATO also said it launched an air strike late Saturday in Kunar province,along the Pakistan border,that targeted a senior Al-Qaeda commander who coordinates a group of Arab fighters in the area,saying he routinely helped them travel into the region.

It did not say whether the commander was killed in the attack,but said his compound was destroyed. It said collateral damage was kept to a minimum,but did not provide further information.