Five more troops die in Afghanistan (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Five more troops die in Afghanistan

10:24pm Friday 10th July 2009 in

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Another five British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said.

The fatalities occurred in two separate blasts on the same patrol.

Their deaths bring the total number of UK military personnel killed in the country since 2001 to 184 - surpassing the total who died in the Iraq war.

Next of kin have been informed.

The soldiers, from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, were killed near Sangin, Helmand Province, on Thursday morning.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson said: "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." 

There will now be a 24-hour grace period before more details are released about those who died.

Earlier it was confirmed that another British soldier from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment died near Nad-e-Ali in Helmand. Lt Col Richardson said of his death: "The loss of this brave Tankie has hit us all deeply. We grieve for him at this very sad time."

His family has also been informed.

Fifteen soldiers have died in 10 days in southern Afghanistan, taking the number of British troops killed since the start of operations in October 2001 to 184. This is more than the number who died in the bitter Iraq campaign, which lasted from March 2003 until the end of combat operations in April this year.