Two British Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan Attacks
Pair killed in separate explosions during 'deliberate operation' near Gereshk, central Helmand
Two British soldiers have been killed in separate attacks in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of defense said.
A soldier from 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade, and a soldier from the Light Dragoons was killed in another explosion.
The deaths, during a "deliberate operation" last night near Gereshk, central Helmand, took the number of UK service personnel killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001 to 173. Next of kin have been informed.
Last week two British soldiers were killed in Helmand after a bomb detonated beneath the armoured Viking tracked vehicle in which they were traveling. One of those killed in that blast was Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, the first British regiment commander to die during active service since the Falklands war.
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "The loss of these soldiers, and colleagues, has come as a huge blow to us all. But it is the family, friends and loved ones, as well as the men and women who served alongside them, who feel the greatest pain and we offer them our deepest and heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers and take consolation from the fact that their deaths are not in vain."
Brigadier General Eric Tremblay, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force, said: "Isaf soldiers grieve once again for the loss of these two first-rate soldiers. On behalf of all their brothers and sisters in arms, I wish to offer my deep sympathies to the families and friends of our fallen comrades.
"The insurgents are desperate and they are employing desperate tactics."
A soldier from 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade, and a soldier from the Light Dragoons was killed in another explosion.
The deaths, during a "deliberate operation" last night near Gereshk, central Helmand, took the number of UK service personnel killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001 to 173. Next of kin have been informed.
Last week two British soldiers were killed in Helmand after a bomb detonated beneath the armoured Viking tracked vehicle in which they were traveling. One of those killed in that blast was Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, the first British regiment commander to die during active service since the Falklands war.
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "The loss of these soldiers, and colleagues, has come as a huge blow to us all. But it is the family, friends and loved ones, as well as the men and women who served alongside them, who feel the greatest pain and we offer them our deepest and heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers and take consolation from the fact that their deaths are not in vain."
Brigadier General Eric Tremblay, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force, said: "Isaf soldiers grieve once again for the loss of these two first-rate soldiers. On behalf of all their brothers and sisters in arms, I wish to offer my deep sympathies to the families and friends of our fallen comrades.
"The insurgents are desperate and they are employing desperate tactics."
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