Marine Killed During Mission to Clear Taliban

A Royal Marine was killed yesterday in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan - the second fatality in three days as British commandos continued to attack Taliban positions around the town of Garmsir.

The Ministry of Defence said the marine, from 45 Commando, was killed during an "ongoing mission to clear known Taliban positions and firing points near Garmsir". It said the next of kin had been informed and had asked for a period of 24 hours before further details were released.

Brigadier Jerry Thomas, commander of British troops in southern Afghanistan, said the marine was killed during a "substantial pre-planned operation in the south of Helmand".

He added: "I know that this is a very difficult time for his family and his friends, but I do want to convey my sincere condolences and let them know that our thoughts are very much with them. His colleagues were able to display their courage and resolve in continuing their mission at a particularly challenging time."

Defence sources said yesterday's fighting was separate but related to an operation last week when marines captured a Taliban headquarters. More than 100 men approached the compound in the early hours of last Thursday supported by British Apache helicopters, Harrier aircraft and Nato planes. The compound, with up to 100 Taliban fighters inside, was in the area of Kostay, south of Garmsir, and was considered to be one of the main headquarters for Taliban forces in the south of Helmand province, the MoD said.

A British forces spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Rory Bruce, described that operation as "the latest in a series of successful operations to disrupt and destroy known Taliban strongholds in Helmand".

Yesterday's death is the second so far this year. Marine Thomas Curry, 21, from London, died on Saturday. It takes the number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 46, 21 of which were caused by accident or illness.

On Saturday another British soldier, Kingsman Alex Green, 21, from Warrington, was killed on patrol in Basra, Iraq.