A ground and air search is being undertaken by coalition forces in Afghanistan for two US service members missing since July 23 who may have been captured by the Taliban.

According to a statement on NATO’s website that didn’t identify their nationality, the two left a compound in the capital, Kabul, in a vehicle two days ago. Both were Americans, said a senior NATO military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. Citing unidentified officials, the Associated Press reported they were US Navy personnel.

In a telephone interview Friday, senior Taliban commander Akhtar Mohammed said that the two were captured by the terrorist group.

AP cited Samer Gul, the region’s chief, as saying Friday that an armored sport-utility vehicle came under fire from Taliban forces in the Charkh district south of Kabul late on July 23. According to AP Gul said that one of the occupants may have been killed and the other captured.

(Thanks to Bloomberg and Wikipedia)