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LONDON - Two British soldiers were killed by a rocket attack during operations in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said today.
"It is with deep regret that I must confirm the death of two members of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, who died during operations in Helmand," said Brigadier Jerry Thomas in a statement.
Thomas said the attack was in the Sangin area but he was unable to say when it took place.
NATO in Afghanistan said two soldiers, whose nationalities it did not release, were killed during combat operations in the south on Saturday.
Britain is due to increase its troop numbers in southern Afghanistan by 800 over the next few months, adding a third battalion of infantry and bringing its total above 6,000, nearly all deployed in the south.
NATO has a force of more than 30,000 troops in Afghanistan and many countries have contributed, but the brunt of the fighting has been borne by US, British, Canadian and Dutch forces deployed in the restive south.
- REUTERS
