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Footage released of Afghan battle | Footage released of Afghan battle |
(20 minutes later) | |
The Ministry of Defence has released footage of an intense two-day battle in which the first Gurkha to die in Afghanistan lost his life. | The Ministry of Defence has released footage of an intense two-day battle in which the first Gurkha to die in Afghanistan lost his life. |
Rifleman Yubraj Rai, 28, was killed on 4 November when his patrol was attacked in Helmand province. | Rifleman Yubraj Rai, 28, was killed on 4 November when his patrol was attacked in Helmand province. |
The images show his unit in battle south of the key town of Musa Qala, once under Taleban control. He had volunteered for the operation. | The images show his unit in battle south of the key town of Musa Qala, once under Taleban control. He had volunteered for the operation. |
A second Gurkha has since died in the seven-year campaign in Afghanistan. | A second Gurkha has since died in the seven-year campaign in Afghanistan. |
Operation Mar Nonu - which means "operation aggressive snakeman" in Nepalese - was launched on the day Rifleman Rai died. | Operation Mar Nonu - which means "operation aggressive snakeman" in Nepalese - was launched on the day Rifleman Rai died. |
Rifleman Rai had also served in Iraq, Sierra Leone and Bosnia | |
The operation was aimed at expanding the area controlled by the British and the Afghan National Army. | The operation was aimed at expanding the area controlled by the British and the Afghan National Army. |
The footage shows an Apache gunship and Warrior armoured vehicles at hand to offer fire support. | The footage shows an Apache gunship and Warrior armoured vehicles at hand to offer fire support. |
Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles took the lead to the south of Musa Qala against the Taleban's fighters. | Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles took the lead to the south of Musa Qala against the Taleban's fighters. |
Rifleman Rai was shot dead when his foot patrol came under attack. | Rifleman Rai was shot dead when his foot patrol came under attack. |
The BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said his unit's mission was to help clear compounds of insurgents and improvised explosive devices. | The BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said his unit's mission was to help clear compounds of insurgents and improvised explosive devices. |
She added the operation was part of the wider counter-insurgency campaign aimed ultimately at winning over Afghan civilians and persuading the Taleban to lay down their arms. | She added the operation was part of the wider counter-insurgency campaign aimed ultimately at winning over Afghan civilians and persuading the Taleban to lay down their arms. |
Britain has about 8,000 troops in Afghanistan, and the world-famous Nepalese Gurkha soldiers are an integral part of the British Army. | Britain has about 8,000 troops in Afghanistan, and the world-famous Nepalese Gurkha soldiers are an integral part of the British Army. |
Colour Sgt Krishnabahadur Dura, 36, was the second Gurkha to die in the conflict. | Colour Sgt Krishnabahadur Dura, 36, was the second Gurkha to die in the conflict. |
He died about two weeks after Rifleman Rai when the Warrior vehicle he was travelling in struck an explosive device in Musa Qala. | He died about two weeks after Rifleman Rai when the Warrior vehicle he was travelling in struck an explosive device in Musa Qala. |