KABUL ? (UPDATE) NATO on Sunday announced the death of two foreign soldiers, one of them American, in southern Afghanistan's insurgent heartland.

One soldier whose nationality was not given died Sunday in an insurgent attack, NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.

Another, confirmed as an American, died Saturday following a Taliban-style bomb attack, ISAF said.

The deaths brings to 497 the total number of foreign troops to die in the Afghan war so far this year, according to an AFP tally based on that kept by the icasualties.org website.

The total in 2009 was 521.

The war is nearing the end of its ninth year, with international troops at almost full strength of 150,000, from the United States and NATO.