Soldier dies in Afghan operations

BBC News – A British soldier has been killed and four others injured in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. The dead soldier was from the 1st Battalion the Grenadier Guards.

The five were hit by an explosion after clashes with Taleban forces during offensive operations in Garmsir in Helmand Province, overnight.

The next of kin of the soldiers involved have been informed, the MoD said. A total of 56 UK troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001.

BBC correspondent Alastair Leithead, reporting from Kabul, said British forces had launched an operation in Garmsir a “notoriously bad area” which was “pretty much all controlled by the Taleban”.

He said soldiers from the regiment were involved in the operation and had been involved in clashes with Taleban fighters using mortar, small arms fire and artillery.

There was then an explosion and five soldiers were hit by the blast.

They were taken away under fire and one was pronounced dead at the scene. Three were seriously injured and one suffered minor injuries.

The three seriously wounded were taken to the Camp Bastion, the main base, to receive medical treatment.

Of the 56 personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001, 33 soldiers have died in combat, while others have died from accidents, illness, or non-combat injuries, according to the MoD.