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| Soldier dies as Afghan toll rises | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier from the Light Dragoons has been killed in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has announced. | A British soldier from the Light Dragoons has been killed in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has announced. |
| The serviceman died in an explosion near Gereshk in Helmand Province on Tuesday night. The MoD says next of kin have been informed. | The serviceman died in an explosion near Gereshk in Helmand Province on Tuesday night. The MoD says next of kin have been informed. |
| He was part of Operation Panther's Claw - a major assault against the Taliban. | He was part of Operation Panther's Claw - a major assault against the Taliban. |
| The death, the seventh in a week, brings the number of UK service personnel killed in Afghanistan to 176. | The death, the seventh in a week, brings the number of UK service personnel killed in Afghanistan to 176. |
| Meanwhile UK Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth is due to reaffirm Britain's commitment to operations in Afghanistan. | Meanwhile UK Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth is due to reaffirm Britain's commitment to operations in Afghanistan. |
| When you go out to Afghanistan, as I did last weekend, there is a very real sense of momentum Defence Secreatry Bob Ainsworth | |
| The Light Dragoons and 2 Mercian regiments are among 700 UK troops taking part in Panther's Claw, launched two weeks ago in Helmand. | The Light Dragoons and 2 Mercian regiments are among 700 UK troops taking part in Panther's Claw, launched two weeks ago in Helmand. |
| A much larger offensive in the province is being fought by about 4,000 US and 650 Afghan troops. | |
| The joint campaign is designed to drive the Taliban out of the region and make it safe for presidential elections due next month. | |
| In speech in London later Mr Ainsworth will set out the nature of the campaign in Afghanistan, and say that winning the fight against the Taliban is in the UK's national interest. | In speech in London later Mr Ainsworth will set out the nature of the campaign in Afghanistan, and say that winning the fight against the Taliban is in the UK's national interest. |
| But the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the assessment from commanders on the ground is that things will get worse before they get better, meaning further casualties are likely as the conflict intensifies. | |
| Earlier Mr Ainsworth admitted there was "gloom and worry" about the British death toll in Afghanistan, but insisted troops on the ground have a sense of momentum. | |
| He also rejected comparisons with the Vietnam conflict, which lasted more than 15 years and cost the lives of nearly 60,000 US servicemen. | |
| Mr Ainsworth told the BBC: "I don't accept that. We have made considerable progress." | |
| He added: "There is, of course, gloom and worry back here in London with the numbers of people that we've lost. If people weren't [worrying], there would be something seriously wrong with them. | |
| "But when you go out to Afghanistan, as I did last weekend, there is a very real sense of momentum." | |
| Doubts cast | |
| His comments came after seven UK troops were killed in the first week of July alone. | |
| The deaths included Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, who became the most senior Army officer to be killed on operations since the Falklands War. | |
| While some senior figures have cast doubt on the effectiveness of the international campaign against the Taliban, Mr Ainsworth insisted the troops were clear about their mission and were making progress. | |
| "There is no doubt in their minds that they are achieving something, and that they are there for a purpose and that purpose is - boil it down - to help the Afghans and to protect national security." | |
| "There is no misunderstanding on their part that they are making progress, that they are there for a good cause. No doubt whatsoever." | |
| He said the Taliban's abilities had been significantly "degraded" while the Afghan government was better able to "reach its own people". |