Two British soldiers serving in Afghanistan were killed in an explosion today.The Ministry of Defence said the men were taking part in a routine patrol in Helmand Province when their vehicle was hit.
Two British soldiers serving in Afghanistan were killed in an explosion today.
The Ministry of Defence said the men were taking part in a routine patrol in Helmand Province when their vehicle was hit. Next of kin have not yet been informed and the dead men's regiment has not been identified.
The attack brings the number of British personnel to have died in Afghanistan since November 2001 to 76.
The 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglians is among the British Army regiments currently stationed in Helmand and has suffered heavy casualties, with nine soldiers killed so far and more than 50 wounded.
The latest deaths come almost two weeks after three soldiers from the battalion were killed in Afghanistan by so-called friendly fire from American fighter planes.
Two Afghan police officers were also killed in Taliban attacks today, while nearly 30 militants were killed elsewhere, authorities said.
Yesterday's deaths were the latest in a surge of violence that underlines the weakness of the central government six years after US-led forces invaded the country and toppled its hard-line Taliban rulers.
Most of the insurgent strikes are in the form of roadside bombs or suicide blasts, a tactic that Nato said had killed 227 Afghan civilians this year.
It said this toll was “significantly higher” than the number of Afghan or international soldiers killed by the blasts.
The soldiers killed today were taking part in a routine patrol in Helmand province when their vehicle was hit by an explosion during a fight with the Taliban.
Another soldier and a civilian interpreter serving with Nato forces were also wounded in the battle, in which 20 suspected insurgents died.
Lt Col Bridget Rose, Regional Command South spokesperson, said: “"This is a profoundly regrettable incident, and our thoughts are naturally with the families and friends of those who have died today.
"Isaf (International Security Assistance Force) troops, and the Afghans who work along side them, operate in extremely dangerous conditions," she said.
"It is a testament to their courage, resolve and commitment that they continue to bear down on insurgents bent on destroying the lives of the normal hard-working people in Afghanistan."
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