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UK soldier killed in Afghanistan | UK soldier killed in Afghanistan |
(30 minutes later) | |
A British army soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said. | A British army soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said. |
The serviceman, from 1st Battalion The Rifles, died of wounds received while on a foot patrol south of Lashkar Gah in the country's Helmand province. | The serviceman, from 1st Battalion The Rifles, died of wounds received while on a foot patrol south of Lashkar Gah in the country's Helmand province. |
The soldier was on a joint operation carried out by the Army and the Afghan National Army to "dominate ground" in the region, the MoD said. | |
This latest fatality brings the number of UK casualties to 145 since 2001. | This latest fatality brings the number of UK casualties to 145 since 2001. |
The soldier's next of kin have been informed of the death. | The soldier's next of kin have been informed of the death. |
Commander Paula Rowe, spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand, said: "Task Force Helmand mourns the loss of this brave soldier and we offer our thoughts and prayers to all his family, friends and comrades at this difficult time." | Commander Paula Rowe, spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand, said: "Task Force Helmand mourns the loss of this brave soldier and we offer our thoughts and prayers to all his family, friends and comrades at this difficult time." |
Brigadier General Richard Blanchette, spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) which runs military operations in Afghanistan, said: "We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the soldier who died while working to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. | Brigadier General Richard Blanchette, spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) which runs military operations in Afghanistan, said: "We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the soldier who died while working to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. |
"We have lost a valuable member of our team and his loss will be felt across ISAF." | "We have lost a valuable member of our team and his loss will be felt across ISAF." |
The MoD said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence has to announce the death of a soldier from 1st Battalion The Rifles. | |
"He died from wounds sustained as a result of enemy fire during a joint UK and Afghan National Army foot patrol to dominate ground in the district of Nawa, south of Lashkar Gah, Helmand province." | |
The MoD also said that the soldier's family had asked for a 24-hour period of grace before further details were released. | |
The previous UK serviceman killed in Afghanistan died on Saturday in an area south west of Sangin, in northern Helmand. | |
Marine Darren Smith, from X-ray Company, 45 Commando, was flown to hospital after being shot. | |
But the 27-year-old, from Fleetwood, Lancashire, died while being transferred to medical facilities at Camp Bastion. |