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UK soldier dies in rocket attack | UK soldier dies in rocket attack |
(about 8 hours later) | |
A British soldier from 14 Signal Regiment has been killed in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. | |
The soldier - a communications specialist - died in a rocket attack while providing support to operations in Helmand province on Friday. | The soldier - a communications specialist - died in a rocket attack while providing support to operations in Helmand province on Friday. |
The soldier's next of kin have been informed and have requested a period of grace before his name is released. | The soldier's next of kin have been informed and have requested a period of grace before his name is released. |
The death brings the number of UK military fatalities since 2001 to 67. | The death brings the number of UK military fatalities since 2001 to 67. |
The soldier was serving with Battle Group South on operation Chakush (Hammer) aimed at disrupting Taleban forces in the upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand Province, said the MoD. | The soldier was serving with Battle Group South on operation Chakush (Hammer) aimed at disrupting Taleban forces in the upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand Province, said the MoD. |
The statement added that he came under attack at about 1530 local time while working in a compound between Heyderabad and Mirmandab. | The statement added that he came under attack at about 1530 local time while working in a compound between Heyderabad and Mirmandab. |
More deaths | More deaths |
Two other Nato troops and an Afghan soldier died in a separate clash with Taleban fighters in the country on Friday. | |
They were killed in an area of eastern Nuristan province. Thirteen Nato soldiers were wounded in the incident. | |
The latest British death means three UK troops have been killed in three days during heavy fighting in southern Afghanistan. | The latest British death means three UK troops have been killed in three days during heavy fighting in southern Afghanistan. |
Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins, 22, of the Royal Anglian Regiment was the first to be killed on Wednesday, when a roadside bomb struck the vehicle he was travelling in. | Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins, 22, of the Royal Anglian Regiment was the first to be killed on Wednesday, when a roadside bomb struck the vehicle he was travelling in. |
The second was Guardsman David Atherton, 25, from the Grenadier Guards, who was shot during a firefight on Thursday after firing an anti-tank missile at Taleban positions. | The second was Guardsman David Atherton, 25, from the Grenadier Guards, who was shot during a firefight on Thursday after firing an anti-tank missile at Taleban positions. |
BBC Kabul correspondent Alastair Leithead said the battles in the Gereshk valley area were a result of operation Chakush. | BBC Kabul correspondent Alastair Leithead said the battles in the Gereshk valley area were a result of operation Chakush. |
Up to 1,500 British troops and 500 Afghan, Estonian, Danish and US soldiers are involved in the mission to try to force Taleban insurgents further up the valley, our correspondent said. | Up to 1,500 British troops and 500 Afghan, Estonian, Danish and US soldiers are involved in the mission to try to force Taleban insurgents further up the valley, our correspondent said. |