WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Violence in Afghanistan continues Tuesday morning as ABC 7 has learned that one American was among six United Nations employees killed in an attack on a guest house in Kabul.

Twelve people in total died in the assault, including the three gunmen strapped with suicide vests.

Meanwhile, new details have been released about the three DEA agents from our area who were among the Americans killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Monday.

The DEA has identified them as Special Agent Forrest N. Leamon, 37, of Woodbridge, VA, Special Agent Chad L. Michael, 30, of Quantico, VA and Special Agent Michael E. Weston, 37, of Washington, D.C.

The three Special agents were assisting Afghanistan police in what was described as a dangerous counter narcotics operation tackling the large opium and heroin trade. The mission included a shoot-out with suspected Taliban drug traffickers, but it was the helicopter ride out of the tomultuous region Monday that took their lives.

The DEA began operations there in 2005, but in the past year launched plans to greatly expand the effort, from about a dozen agents to nearly 80.

The three men died in a helicopter crash that also claimed the lives of seven U.S. service members. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Special Agents Leamon and Michael were members of the federal agency's Foreign-deployed Advisory and Support Teams. Special Agent Weston was assigned to the agency's Kabul Office.

Leamon had been working in Afghanistan since 2007.

He is survived by his pregnant wife, said Joseph Arabit, the head of the DEA's El Paso, Texas, office where the agent worked until 2007.

"People are having a tough time here because he left many friends behind. He had many friends who cared for him deeply," Arabit said.

Leamon's neighbors are lamenting the loss by remembering the local hero and recognizing a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.

"He's a hero," said neighbor Sean Lasalle.

Michael had been working at the DEA's office in Miami until August, when he transferred to Afghanistan.

The head of the Miami office, Mark Trouville, remembered Michael as an accomplished agent who had done undercover work, including the takedown of a major Colombian heroin smuggling operation.

"He was a hard-charging case maker. He wanted to go and do this. He wanted to make a difference," Trouville said Tuesday. "He was a young man with a lot of energy and a lot of talents."

One neighbor described him as a devoted husband who "was a wonderful man. He did us a great service for this country."

Weston had worked until August at the Richmond, Va., office.

Federal officials say their loss is not in vain. The mission, which had just been completed, has been touted as a major success like so many others.

The crash is still being investigated but government officials say they don't believe the helicopter was shot down by insurgents.

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