Army Death Toll Rises
A further two UK soldiers have been killed in separate incidents during operations in Helmand province in Afghanistan, these are eighth and ninth soldiers to be killed during July.
One soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed in an explosion and the second from the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment died from a gunshot wound. Their next of kin have been informed, the Ministry of Defence said.
We mourn their loss and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends at this very sad time. We know that their deaths were not in vain
The soldiers, who died on Thursday brings the number of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 now stands at 178.
The soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed in a blast while on foot patrol near Nad Ali on Thursday afternoon.
The soldier from Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed during an engagement with insurgent forces near Lashkar Gah on Thursday evening.
Lt Col Nick Richardson said: "These fine British soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice and their memory will live with us forever.
"We mourn their loss and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends at this very sad time. We know that their deaths were not in vain."
British forces are currently engaged in a major offensive in Helmand province, in the south of the country, in conjunction with over 4,000 US troops and 650 Afghan Army troops.
The joint campaign is designed to push the Taliban out of the region and make it safe for presidential elections due next month.
Earlier this week, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said more would die before the operation was over, which brought about a reaction from the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg who while supporting the Army objectives criticised the lack of support and equipment the government was providing the troops thus putting lives at risk unnecessarily..
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