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| UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan | UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two UK soldiers have died in separate explosions in southern Afghanistan as an offensive against the Taliban enters its second phase. | |
| Both blasts took place on the morning of 27 July, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. Next of kin have been told. | |
| The MoD said one of the soldiers died taking part in Operation Panther's Claw - the first death of its second stage. | The MoD said one of the soldiers died taking part in Operation Panther's Claw - the first death of its second stage. |
| Earlier, Brig Tim Radford, commander of UK forces in Afghanistan, hailed the operation's first stage as a success. | Earlier, Brig Tim Radford, commander of UK forces in Afghanistan, hailed the operation's first stage as a success. |
| The latest fatalities take the number of UK service personnel killed in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001 to 191. | The latest fatalities take the number of UK service personnel killed in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001 to 191. |
| Ten UK soldiers died during the first stage of Operation Panther's Claw, an offensive to clear the Taliban from populated areas in north-central Helmand province which has involved 3,000 troops since its launch in June. | Ten UK soldiers died during the first stage of Operation Panther's Claw, an offensive to clear the Taliban from populated areas in north-central Helmand province which has involved 3,000 troops since its launch in June. |
| See a map of recent operations | See a map of recent operations |
| According to the MoD, the first of the latest fatalities occurred when a soldier from The Light Dragoons was killed in an explosion whilst on a vehicle patrol as part of the operation in Lashkar Gah district, central Helmand. | According to the MoD, the first of the latest fatalities occurred when a soldier from The Light Dragoons was killed in an explosion whilst on a vehicle patrol as part of the operation in Lashkar Gah district, central Helmand. |
| It was the first death in Operation Panther's Claw's second stage - which will focus on holding ground won from the Taliban in recent weeks. | It was the first death in Operation Panther's Claw's second stage - which will focus on holding ground won from the Taliban in recent weeks. |
| In the other incident, a soldier from 5th Regiment Royal Artillery was killed in a blast while on a foot patrol in Sangin district, also in Helmand. This soldier had not been taking part in the operation. | In the other incident, a soldier from 5th Regiment Royal Artillery was killed in a blast while on a foot patrol in Sangin district, also in Helmand. This soldier had not been taking part in the operation. |
| Lt Col Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said the MoD was announcing the soldiers' deaths with "deep regret". | Lt Col Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said the MoD was announcing the soldiers' deaths with "deep regret". |
| He added: "These fine British soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice and their memory will live with us forever." | He added: "These fine British soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice and their memory will live with us forever." |
| The MoD has also named a soldier killed in an explosion during the offensive on Saturday as Bombardier Craig Hopson, 24, from Castleford, west Yorkshire, who was serving with 40th Regiment Royal Artillery. | The MoD has also named a soldier killed in an explosion during the offensive on Saturday as Bombardier Craig Hopson, 24, from Castleford, west Yorkshire, who was serving with 40th Regiment Royal Artillery. |
| 'Very sad time' | 'Very sad time' |
| Operation Panther's Claw focused on an area the size of the Isle of Wight, between Helmand's provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, and its economic capital, Gereshk | Operation Panther's Claw focused on an area the size of the Isle of Wight, between Helmand's provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, and its economic capital, Gereshk |
| The first phase of the operation ended as UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged Afghanistan's leaders to build a political coalition which included some of the country's more moderate insurgents. | The first phase of the operation ended as UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged Afghanistan's leaders to build a political coalition which included some of the country's more moderate insurgents. |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it had been "one of the most difficult summers" since UK forces entered Afghanistan in 2001. | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it had been "one of the most difficult summers" since UK forces entered Afghanistan in 2001. |
| "We have started to break the chain of terror that links Afghanistan to the streets of Britain" | "We have started to break the chain of terror that links Afghanistan to the streets of Britain" |
| He said the offensive had secured land for around 100,000 people and had started to break the "chain of terror" linking Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan to the UK. | He said the offensive had secured land for around 100,000 people and had started to break the "chain of terror" linking Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan to the UK. |
| "We mourn their loss and our thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends at this very sad time. | "We mourn their loss and our thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends at this very sad time. |
| "It's time to commemorate all those soldiers who have given their lives and to thank all our British forces for the determination and professionalism and courage that they've shown," he added. | "It's time to commemorate all those soldiers who have given their lives and to thank all our British forces for the determination and professionalism and courage that they've shown," he added. |
| The Ministry of Defence said the first stage of Panther's Claw was the most heavily-militarised of the offensive. | The Ministry of Defence said the first stage of Panther's Claw was the most heavily-militarised of the offensive. |
| During the month-long push, troops came across 153 improvised explosive devices, or roadside bombs. | During the month-long push, troops came across 153 improvised explosive devices, or roadside bombs. |
| We've had a significant impact on the Taliban in this area - both in terms of their capability and their morale Brig Tim Radford Taking politics to the Taliban | We've had a significant impact on the Taliban in this area - both in terms of their capability and their morale Brig Tim Radford Taking politics to the Taliban |
| It ended with a final armoured thrust into former Taliban territory by The Black Watch and 2nd Battalion the Welsh Guards. | It ended with a final armoured thrust into former Taliban territory by The Black Watch and 2nd Battalion the Welsh Guards. |
| Ten soldiers died during the operation, while another 10 were killed on unrelated missions during the last month. | Ten soldiers died during the operation, while another 10 were killed on unrelated missions during the last month. |
| Brig Radford said the casualties had not been in vain. | Brig Radford said the casualties had not been in vain. |
| "I am absolutely certain that the operation has been a success," he said. | "I am absolutely certain that the operation has been a success," he said. |
| "We've had a significant impact on the Taliban in this area - both in terms of their capability and their morale." | "We've had a significant impact on the Taliban in this area - both in terms of their capability and their morale." |
| But ex-Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown - who served as the UN's High Representative and EU envoy to Bosnia from 2002 to 2005 - said it was too early to declare the operation a success. | But ex-Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown - who served as the UN's High Representative and EU envoy to Bosnia from 2002 to 2005 - said it was too early to declare the operation a success. |
| Speaking to the BBC, he said: "Do we have enough troops to hold this ground, to stop the Taliban coming in as they've done in the past? | Speaking to the BBC, he said: "Do we have enough troops to hold this ground, to stop the Taliban coming in as they've done in the past? |
| "If not, this isn't a success, it's a prelude to a repeat of the past." | "If not, this isn't a success, it's a prelude to a repeat of the past." |
| 'Good relations' | 'Good relations' |
| British commanders estimate there were up to 500 Taliban in the area before the start of the operation and say most have now fled, given up arms or been killed. | British commanders estimate there were up to 500 Taliban in the area before the start of the operation and say most have now fled, given up arms or been killed. |
| Brig Radford said Afghan nationals had moved back into the cleared areas and had been warning them about roadside bombs and helping them plot safe routes. | Brig Radford said Afghan nationals had moved back into the cleared areas and had been warning them about roadside bombs and helping them plot safe routes. |
| These good relations meant some reintegration with current insurgents was "not beyond the realms of possibility", he said. | These good relations meant some reintegration with current insurgents was "not beyond the realms of possibility", he said. |
| The operation's second and third stages will aim to hold ground taken by forces during the offensive and work towards the elections in late August. | The operation's second and third stages will aim to hold ground taken by forces during the offensive and work towards the elections in late August. |
| Brig Radford said morale was "extremely high" among British troops, adding that he did not feel his forces had been short of helicopters during his three months leading them. | Brig Radford said morale was "extremely high" among British troops, adding that he did not feel his forces had been short of helicopters during his three months leading them. |
| The high casualty rate among British troops, with roadside bombs proving particularly deadly, had provoked debate over whether forces were properly equipped to deal with the threat. | The high casualty rate among British troops, with roadside bombs proving particularly deadly, had provoked debate over whether forces were properly equipped to deal with the threat. |
| Much of it had focused on a perceived lack of helicopters, with Conservative leader David Cameron attacking ministers over the "scandal" of shortages. | Much of it had focused on a perceived lack of helicopters, with Conservative leader David Cameron attacking ministers over the "scandal" of shortages. |
| Military commanders said using more helicopters would save lives by keeping troops off the roads and making their movements less predictable. | Military commanders said using more helicopters would save lives by keeping troops off the roads and making their movements less predictable. |
| However, Mr Brown has insisted troops had the resources "to do the job" and that lives had not been lost during the operation because of a lack of helicopters. | However, Mr Brown has insisted troops had the resources "to do the job" and that lives had not been lost during the operation because of a lack of helicopters. |
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