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Two more UK deaths in Afghanistan | Two more UK deaths in Afghanistan |
(30 minutes later) | |
Two more UK troops have died in separate attacks in Helmand province in Afghanistan, the eighth and ninth soldiers to be killed this month. | Two more UK troops have died in separate attacks in Helmand province in Afghanistan, the eighth and ninth soldiers to be killed this month. |
One soldier was killed in an explosion and the second died from a gunshot wound. Their next of kin have been informed, the Ministry of Defence said. | One soldier was killed in an explosion and the second died from a gunshot wound. Their next of kin have been informed, the Ministry of Defence said. |
The soldiers, who died on Thursday, were from 4th Battalion The Rifles and Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. | The soldiers, who died on Thursday, were from 4th Battalion The Rifles and Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. |
The number of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 178. | The number of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 178. |
The soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed in a blast while on foot patrol near Nad Ali on Thursday afternoon. | The soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed in a blast while on foot patrol near Nad Ali on Thursday afternoon. |
The soldier from Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed during an engagement with insurgent forces near Lashkar Gah on Thursday evening. | The soldier from Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed during an engagement with insurgent forces near Lashkar Gah on Thursday evening. |
The latest deaths bring the toll in Afghanistan to just one short of the 179 personnel killed before British troops pulled out of Iraq. | The latest deaths bring the toll in Afghanistan to just one short of the 179 personnel killed before British troops pulled out of Iraq. |
BRITISH FATALITIES IN AFGHANISTAN MARCH 2006 - JULY 2009 September 2006: Highest monthly toll with 19 dead including 14 killed when a RAF Nimrod crashes in Afghanistan.June 2008: British death toll reaches 100. Among the 13 fatalities in June is the first British female soldier.May 2009: Surge in casualties as Taliban use powerful Improvised Explosive Devices to attack British forces. | BRITISH FATALITIES IN AFGHANISTAN MARCH 2006 - JULY 2009 September 2006: Highest monthly toll with 19 dead including 14 killed when a RAF Nimrod crashes in Afghanistan.June 2008: British death toll reaches 100. Among the 13 fatalities in June is the first British female soldier.May 2009: Surge in casualties as Taliban use powerful Improvised Explosive Devices to attack British forces. |
Lt Col Nick Richardson said: "These fine British soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice and their memory will live with us forever. | Lt Col Nick Richardson said: "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." | "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." |
British forces are engaged in a major offensive in Helmand province, in the south of the country, and have been joined by about 4,000 US and 650 Afghan troops. | British forces are engaged in a major offensive in Helmand province, in the south of the country, and have been joined by about 4,000 US and 650 Afghan troops. |
We want to see an Afghanistan that doesn't threaten us, therefore we do have dogs in this fight Sir Jeremy Greenstock Son paid ultimate sacrifice | |
The joint campaign is designed to drive the Taliban out of the region and make it safe for presidential elections due next month. | The joint campaign is designed to drive the Taliban out of the region and make it safe for presidential elections due next month. |
News of the two deaths came as the bodies of five soldiers killed in Afghanistan over the past week were returned to the UK. | News of the two deaths came as the bodies of five soldiers killed in Afghanistan over the past week were returned to the UK. |
The aircraft carrying their coffins arrived at RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire, for a repatriation ceremony. | The aircraft carrying their coffins arrived at RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire, for a repatriation ceremony. |
After the ceremony, hearses carrying the coffins will pass through nearby Wootton Bassett, which is expected to be lined with hundreds of mourners. | After the ceremony, hearses carrying the coffins will pass through nearby Wootton Bassett, which is expected to be lined with hundreds of mourners. |
The former UK ambassador to the United Nations, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, told the BBC he did not think the operation in Afghanistan was well-enough resourced. | The former UK ambassador to the United Nations, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, told the BBC he did not think the operation in Afghanistan was well-enough resourced. |
HAVE YOUR SAYThe government is not doing enough for our military. We need a massive surge of British troops to take more of the fight to the TalibanJames McCartney, St Austell Send us your comments | |
He said: "We don't have enough troops in the Army to run these sorts of operations any more, we've cut down too far." | He said: "We don't have enough troops in the Army to run these sorts of operations any more, we've cut down too far." |
But he said: "We want to see an Afghanistan that doesn't threaten us, therefore we do have dogs in this fight." | But he said: "We want to see an Afghanistan that doesn't threaten us, therefore we do have dogs in this fight." |
He also said that despite the public's support for British troops, there was a lack of understanding among people of how the military was going to achieve that objective. | He also said that despite the public's support for British troops, there was a lack of understanding among people of how the military was going to achieve that objective. |
Earlier this week Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said more soldiers would die before the operation in Afghanistan was over. | Earlier this week Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said more soldiers would die before the operation in Afghanistan was over. |
In his first speech since being appointed defence secretary, Mr Ainsworth said the way forward in Afghanistan would be "hard and dangerous". | In his first speech since being appointed defence secretary, Mr Ainsworth said the way forward in Afghanistan would be "hard and dangerous". |
He said: "More lives will be lost and our resolve is going to be tested. Success will be achieved incrementally." | He said: "More lives will be lost and our resolve is going to be tested. Success will be achieved incrementally." |