Two more UK soldiers killed

Two soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, part of the Household Cavalry Regiment Battle Group, have been killed in southern Afghanistan.

The soldiers died yesterday in an explosion that occurred in an area north of Musa Qal'ah District in Helmand Province.

Both families have been informed.

Task Force Helmand spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, said:
"It is with deep sadness I must inform you that a single IED explosion yesterday afternoon killed two British soldiers.

"The soldiers were approximately 20 kilometres to the north of Musa Qal'ah District Centre and were part of an ongoing operation to clear insurgents from an area where, until recently, the insurgents had held sway.
 
“Their determined courage in the face of the danger from IEDs and the sacrifice they have made will not be forgotten."

The Ministry of Defence said the deaths were not related to Operation Moshtarak, the major NATO led offensive against the Taliban taking place in the region.

The number of British military personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 now stands at 275.