Seven U.S. troops and nine NATO service members were killed in Afghanistan Thursday when a roadside bomb exploded as the were patrolling the area on food.

The bomb went off in the southern part of the country about 12 miles from the Pakistan border. Forces have been fighting there to remove the Taliban from their southern strongholds.

Two Afghan policemen also died in Thursday's attack and two others were wounded.

The Afghan war death toll for the year stands at 189. Of that number, 38 coalition forces have been killed this month.