10/07/2009

British Troops Killed As Death Toll Rises

Two more British soldiers have been killed in separate incidents in southern Afghanistan.

In the first incident, a soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles, was killed in a contact explosion, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced this morning.

The soldier was out on a foot patrol near Nad Ali.

The second troop, from Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment attached to 1st battalion Welsh Guards, died from a gunshot wound. He was shot following a battle with insurgents near Lashkar Gah in Helmand last night.

The incident took place as part of Operation Panchai Palang (Panthers Claw). Their next of kin has been informed, the MoD said.

The soldiers’ deaths bring the toll to nine men in nine days. The number of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 178.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson: "These fine British soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice and their memory will live with us forever.

"We mourn their loss and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends at this very sad time. We know that their deaths were not in vain."

(JM/BMcC)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

13 September 2005
MoD names soldier killed in Iraq
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the name of a British soldier killed in a bomb explosion in Iraq on Sunday. Major Matthew Bacon, 34, from the London area, was travelling in an armoured landrover in Basra, southern Iraq, when a roadside bomb exploded, hitting the vehicle.
07 September 2007
Two British Soldiers Killed Are Named
Two British soldiers killed in an explosion in Afghanistan have been named by the Ministry of Defence. Private Ben Ford, 18, and Private Damian Wright, 23, were both from the 2nd Battallion The Mercian Regiment. They were taking part in a routine reassurance patrol when the WMIK Landrover vehicle they were travelling in was caught in an explosion.
01 August 2006
Three British soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Three British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. A fourth soldier was seriously injured. The MoD said that the troops were part of the 4,000-strong Nato-led International Security Assistance Force on patrol in the volatile Helmand Province around 0630 GMT when they were attacked.
28 September 2004
Two soldiers killed in southern Iraq
Two British soldiers have died following an ambush outside the town of Basra in southern Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Soldiers came under fire as they tried to rescue others from an armoured Land Rover which had been hit by a rocket-propelled grenade at around 0615BST.
28 June 2007
Three British soldiers killed in Basra
Three British soldiers have been killed and one seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Basra. The explosion occurred in the Al Amtahiya district in the south east of Basra City at around 1am local time on Thursday when the troops were outside their armoured warrior vehicle.