Seven members of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan today, the coalition said, the worst single incident involving foreign troops in a month.
The ISAF did not specify the nationalities of those killed but US, British and Canadian troops make up the bulk of the foreign force in the south.
Almost 200 foreign troops have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year.
Another ISAF service member was killed earlier today when a helicopter crashed in the east of the country, the coalition said. The cause of the crash was under investigation.
The coalition usually does not disclose the nationalities of those killed until the defence ministries of the countries concerned have been informed.
Homemade bombs - or "improvised explosive devices" - are weapons used frequently by insurgents in Afghanistan and account for more than half of the casualties suffered by foreign troops.
"Seven International Security Assistance Force service members died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today," ISAF said in a brief statement.
The toll from today's attack was the worst among foreign troops from a single incident since eight US service personnel and a US contractor were shot dead by an Afghan air force pilot at a military airport in Kabul on April 27th.
Casualties among foreign forces have risen in recent weeks since the Taliban began a long-expected "spring offensive".
Reuters