Eight British soldiers killed in Afghanistan

Afghanistan News.Net
Friday 10th July, 2009

Eight British soldiers have died in war-torn Helmand Province in Afghanistan in the 24 hours leading up to Friday night.

The deaths take the toll of British troops killed in the country to fifteen in the past 10 days.

Another milestone also accompanied the latest deaths. The number of fatalities since hostilities began in 2001 has now reached 184, more than the number of British soldiers killed in Iraq.

Five soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, who were on foot patrol were killed Friday in two separate explosions near Sangin, Helmand Province.

A soldier from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment was also killed Friday as a result of an explosion during a deliberate operation near Nad-e-Ali, central Helmand province.

Two more British soldiers were killed on Thursday night. In the first incident, a soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed in a contact explosion. The incident took place whilst he was on a foot patrol near Nad e-Ali, Helmand province. In the second incident, a soldier from The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards was killed as a result of a gunshot wound. The incident took place as part of Operation PANCHAI PALANG (Panther's Claw) in an engagement with insurgent forces near Lashkar Gah, Helmand province.

"While there are no words to ease their loss, our heartfelt sympathies go to their families, friends and fellow soldiers at this very difficult time: their deaths were not in vain," a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson said Saturday.

"The whole country will be shocked by the deaths of so many service personnel," Conservative leader David Cameron said Saturday.

He criticised the government however for not providing the troops with helicopters to carry out patrols. "It is a scandal that our forces still lack the helicopters they desperately require to move around in Helmand," he said.

"Promises of more helicopters in the future are not enough. More helicopters are needed today. More helicopters would save lives."

Britain's Chief of Defence Staff, Sir Jock Stirrup, said Britain had "taken some very sad casualties over the last several days".

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown defended the war in Afghanistan saying, "Our security depends on strengthening the Pakistan and Afghan governments to defeat both al-Qaeda and also the Pakistan and Afghan Taliban."

"So this is a fight to clear terrorist networks from Afghanistan and Pakistan, to support the elected governments in both countries against the Taliban, to tackle the heroin trade which funds terrorism and the insurgency, and to build longer term stability," said the prime minister.

Mr Browbn paid tribute to "the fearless work of our troops" and said that despite the "tragic losses", morale remained high.

Meantime the The Stop the War coalition will stage a demonstration in London on Monday, calling for Britain to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in light of the heavy losses.

"The troop surge which was meant to pacify Helmand province has become a nightmare for the British army," a spokesman for the coalition said Saturday.

"This unwinnable war must stop now."

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