KABUL: A US aircraft carried out a dozen strikes in  Helmand province in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday as fierce battles  continued with Taliban insurgents around the town of Marjah near the  provincial capital, a US army spokesman said. The strikes came a day  after one US service member was killed and two other Americans and a  number of Afghan special forces soldiers were wounded during operations  in the province, which has seen months of heavy fighting. US army  spokesman Colonel Michael Lawhorn said US special forces were still in  place supporting Afghan army units in Marjah and Sangin district,  further to north, and air support had also been provided. “US forces have conducted 12 air strikes in support of operations in and around Marjah,” he said. —  Reuters