18/08/2008

Military Death Toll Mounts In Afghanistan

Another British soldier has been killed in southern Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defence said the soldier - the 30th to die in the country this year - and the 116th since the operation began in October 2001 was part of a joint British-Afghan patrol which was hit by an explosion at 8.25am local time.

The improvised device also caused shrapnel and blast injuries to one other soldier, an Afghan National Army soldier and the patrol interpreter.

The body of the British soldier and the three casualties were airlifted to the Joint Force Medical Group Facility at Camp Bastion.

The explosion occurred when the joint Afghan National Army and UK Operational Mentoring Liaison Team on patrol dismounted in the Gereshk area of Helmand Province.

Brigadier-General Richard Blanchette, spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said: "It is with great sorrow that we must announce this brave soldier's death as we offer our sympathies to this soldier's loved ones.

The soldier killed was from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland but attached to the 1st Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment.

The next of kin have been informed.

(BMcC)

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