Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan
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Sunday, 02, Jul 2006 09:07
Two British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan following an attack on their base, the Ministry of Defence confirmed today.
The unnamed soldiers were killed following a rocket-propelled grenade attack yesterday in the Sangin district of Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province.
Reports suggest that one of the grenades struck a defensive post at the army's regional headquarters.
An interpreter was also allegedly killed in the attack.
"We can confirm that two British soldiers ... were killed in action in Sangin yesterday when their base came under small-arms and RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) attack," said a spokesman for the MoD, quoted by the Reuters news agency.
The dead men were both from the parachute regiment.
The MoD said the soldiers' next of kin were being informed of their deaths.
The latest fatalities bring the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan over the last few weeks to five.
On Tuesday two British military personnel, who have yet to be named, were killed in fighting with Taliban forces following a "planned detention operation" in Sangin.
A third soldier, Captain Jim Philippson, 29, of the 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, was killed on June 11th after his platoon became involved in a firefight against suspected Taliban insurgents.
More than 3,000 British troops are currently posted in Afghanistan, with the majority based in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand.