Two Romanian soldiers of the 33rd Maneuvering Battalion deployed in Afghanistan were killed in action on Wednesday, 11:30hrs GMT, the Romanian Defence Ministry informs in a press release.

Sergeant Major Dan Ciobotaru and Private Paul Caracuda were carrying out a battle mission on the A1 Kabul-Kandahar motorway.

Some 30 km away from Qalat, the Humvee vehicle carrying the two soldiers was attacked with a remotely controlled improvised explosive device. The two died in the blast that ensued.

Defence Minister Gabriel Oprea has posthumously promoted the two soldiers to Second Lieutenant for bravery displayed in conducting a war mission in Afghanistan, MApN reports