Two Marines Killed By Roadside Bomb

Two Royal Marines patrolling in a lightly-armored Land Rover were killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan yesterday, the Ministry of Defence said. The Land Rover, with stripped-down sides and a machine gun, hit a roadside bomb or a mine three miles south of Kajaki, the site of an important dam in northern Helmand province, according to defence officials.

Next of kin have been informed but the names of the marines, from 40 Commando, will not be released until today. Their deaths bring the number of British military fatalities in Afghanistan since 2001 to 91.

Medical treatment was provided before both soldiers were taken to the field hospital at Camp Bastion but, despite the best efforts of the medical team, both died as a result of their wounds, the MoD said.

Task Force Helmand spokesman Lt Col Simon Millar said: "Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the soldiers who have been killed in this incident."

There are many unexploded mines in Afghanistan, left over from previous conflicts. However, if, as expected, the two marines were killed by an improvised explosive device, it is the latest evidence that the Taliban are resorting to "asymmetric" tactics. Instead of continuing to mount conventional - and usually unsuccessful - attacks with rifles or rockets from vulnerable fixed positions, they are switching to roadside explosive devices or suicide bombers.

"The Taliban have been having a terrible time, they are absolutely whacked," a senior British defence source said. That was why they were adopting new tactics.

Britain is on the point of rotating its forces based in Helmand, with 16 Air Assault Brigade, with parachute regiments, taking over. The number of British troops deployed there is likely to be increased by several hundred to about 8,000.