US soldiers kill four in Afghanistan

US soldiers on patrol in eastern Afghanistan have killed four men who opened fire on them in the second attack on American forces in the region in two days.

None of the 30 US special forces troops were hurt in yesterday’s attack north of Asadabad, which started when five people in a car started shooting at the Americans, said Colonel Roger King.

The soldiers returned fire, killing four and injuring one, King said. He said no civilians were injured.

The injured man was taken to a local hospital in Kunar province and is under guard, King said. He said the men were believed to be al-Qaida, but would not give details on evidence against them.

A large amount of cash from an unidentified country in the region was found in the car, King said.

A day earlier, US troops on patrol in the same area killed two men who fired at them from a hilltop.

‘‘Part of the process of doing patrols like this is to attempt to flush out the enemy that may be operating in that area, and then eventually drive the enemy out of an area,’’ King said today. ‘‘We view two days of contact as a success.’’