US forces have recovered the bodies of two commandos who were part of a special forces group that went missing in rugged mountains in eastern Afghanistan a week ago, reports said.

The dead soldiers were part of a four-man Navy Seal reconnaissance team that disappeared when an American helicopter sent to rescue them was shot down in Kunar province, the BBC and the New York Times said, quoting US military sources.

One of the other commandos was successfully rescued on Saturday while the US remains cautious after conflicting reports about the location of another one of the four special forces members.

The MH-47 Chinook helicopter sent to reinforce the special forces unit was brought down by what was believed to be a rocket propelled grenade, killing 16 military personnel including eight Navy SEALs.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack, which was the biggest loss of US troops in a single attack since the Taliban regime was overthrown late in 2001.

PHOTO CAPTION

US soldiers patrol the streets of Jalalabad. (AFP)