British deaths in Afghanistan are starting to mount up.
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British soldier killed in southern Afghanistan
Declan Walsh in Camp Bastion
Wednesday July 5, 2006
The Guardian
A British soldier was killed today in a Taliban ambush in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, the third British fatality since the weekend.
The attack occurred at about 3pm local time (1130 BST) near the embattled British base in Sangin, a near-deserted town where a large Taliban force has mustered.
The insurgents opened fire on a squad of paratroopers as they secured a helicopter landing site for two Chinook troop carriers which were about to land.
The Guardian was on board one of the Chinooks, which circled about five miles (8km) south of the town as fighting intensified. About 15 minutes later it aborted the mission and returned to the main base at Camp Bastion.
Captain Marcus Eves, a British military spokesman in Helmand, confirmed that one soldier had been killed.
"During a patrol in Sangin town, members of 3 Para battlegroup were attacked by suspected Taliban forces. It is with deep regret that we confirm that during that incident a British soldier has been killed."
Next of kin were being informed.
Over the past week, thousands of civilians have fled the normally bustling market town due to daily Taliban attacks on about 150 British soldiers based at the town's police station. Two soldiers - including Lance Corporal Jabron Hashmi, the first British Muslim soldier to die in the "war on terror" - were killed on Saturday during a rocket attack that blasted through the wall of their room. An Afghan interpreter also died.
The Taliban attacks have become increasingly audacious over the past two weeks. The insurgents appear to be well-armed, well-organised and tactically capable, firing with various weapons from nearby houses, wooded areas and other vantage points.
The paratroopers have returned fire with machine guns, artillery and air support from British and US warplanes, killing an unknown number of Taliban.
guardian.co.uk
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British soldier killed in southern Afghanistan
Declan Walsh in Camp Bastion
Wednesday July 5, 2006
The Guardian
A British soldier was killed today in a Taliban ambush in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, the third British fatality since the weekend.
The attack occurred at about 3pm local time (1130 BST) near the embattled British base in Sangin, a near-deserted town where a large Taliban force has mustered.
The insurgents opened fire on a squad of paratroopers as they secured a helicopter landing site for two Chinook troop carriers which were about to land.
The Guardian was on board one of the Chinooks, which circled about five miles (8km) south of the town as fighting intensified. About 15 minutes later it aborted the mission and returned to the main base at Camp Bastion.
Captain Marcus Eves, a British military spokesman in Helmand, confirmed that one soldier had been killed.
"During a patrol in Sangin town, members of 3 Para battlegroup were attacked by suspected Taliban forces. It is with deep regret that we confirm that during that incident a British soldier has been killed."
Next of kin were being informed.
Over the past week, thousands of civilians have fled the normally bustling market town due to daily Taliban attacks on about 150 British soldiers based at the town's police station. Two soldiers - including Lance Corporal Jabron Hashmi, the first British Muslim soldier to die in the "war on terror" - were killed on Saturday during a rocket attack that blasted through the wall of their room. An Afghan interpreter also died.
The Taliban attacks have become increasingly audacious over the past two weeks. The insurgents appear to be well-armed, well-organised and tactically capable, firing with various weapons from nearby houses, wooded areas and other vantage points.
The paratroopers have returned fire with machine guns, artillery and air support from British and US warplanes, killing an unknown number of Taliban.
guardian.co.uk
