British soldier killed by grenade in Afghanistan

Fri Mar 26, 2010, 4:48 pm ET

LONDON (AFP) –

A British soldier has died in a grenade attack while out on foot patrol in Afghanistan, officials said Friday.

The soldier, from the Household Cavalry Regiment, died on Friday in Sangin, Helmand Province.

His death was not connected to Operation Moshtarak, a major offensive in Helmand's Marjah region aimed at breaking the grip of the Taliban and drug cartels.

"A British soldier from the Household Cavalry Regiment, serving as part of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, was killed in Sangin this afternoon," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield said.

"He was on a BRF foot patrol operating about three kilometres to the south of Sangin district centre when he was fatally wounded by a grenade thrown from behind a wall."

The death takes to 277 the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 and comes the day after heir to the throne Prince Charles visited forces in Afghanistan.

A total of 32 British troops have been killed this year. Britain has around 10,000 troops in Afghanistan, largely battling Taliban militants in Helmand.

The dead man's family have been informed.

NATO reports another Afghan death

AP, Sat Mar 27, 8:30 am ET

KABUL –

An international service member was killed Saturday by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, NATO said, raising the number of alliance troops who have died in the country this month to at least 36.

A NATO statement did not identify the victim by nationality or provide further details.

The alliance has been stepping up military operations in the south in a bid to turn back the Taliban, whose base is among the southern Pashtun ethnic community.

U.S., NATO and Afghan forces seized the town of Marjah in Helmand province from the Taliban last month and are stepping up operations in neighboring Kandahar province, the spiritual birthplace of the Taliban.

In March last year, 28 NATO service members died in Afghanistan, including 13 Americans.

Also Saturday, NATO reported that a day earlier Afghan and alliance forces raided a compound in the northern Helmand town of Musa Qalah, killing and detaining several suspected insurgents.

A NATO statement said the compound was believed to have been used to train Taliban fighters and store their weapons.

The force seized several assault rifles, about 10,000 rounds of ammunition, six rocket-propelled grenades and other weaponry, it said.

Elsewhere, two insurgents were captured Friday during a raid in the Nad-i-Ali district of Helmand, which includes Marjah. One of the insurgents was believed to be a Taliban commander who has planned attacks in Marjah and Nad-i-Ali, the NATO statement said.

In Logar province west of Kabul, a joint security force arrested two suspected Taliban members Friday, NATO said.

The following news reports were published by a website claiming to represent Taliban fighters (http://alemarah.info/english/). There has been no independent verification of these stories in the internet.

27 03 10 At least 7 American troops killed as blast hits U.S. tank in Zabul

27 03 10 Two killed, one injured as NATO patrol attacked in Badghis

27 03 10 Mujahideen bombing and attack leave at least 15 NATO soldiers dead or injured, 5 vehicles destroyed

27 03 10 Two French killed, one injures in clash with Mujahideen in Kapisa

27 03 10 Jalalabad airfield comes under missile strikes

27 03 10 Jalalabad airfield comes under missile strikes

26 03 10 Jalalabad airfield comes under missile strikes

26 03 10 Deputy district killed in Mujahideen attack, in Ghazni

26 03 10 Two dead, one injured as police patrol comes under attack in Kandahar city

26 03 10 Blast kills three soldiers in Kandahar

26 03 10 Deadliest losses inflicted on coalition troops in Marjah yet again

26 03 10 3 policemen dead, 2 wounded in Mujahideen attack on police check posts along highway in Khost city

26 03 10 Mujahideen's missiles hit Sara Bagh airfield in Khost

26 03 10 Blast hits district governor vehicle in Helmand, nine soldiers receive losses of life and casualties

25 03 10 17 U.S.-led troops killed in Marjah, 5 tanks eliminated in bombings

25 03 10 Seven soldiers take losses of life and injures, logistical vehicle destroyed in Gerishk

25 03 10 Three American troops killed as Mujahideen attack U.S base in Kunar

25 03 10 Mujahideen's attack on police post leaves 7 dead including commander in Helmand

25 03 10 Mujahideen attack in Wardag leaves 6 dead, several wounded

25 03 10 U.S. air strikes leave 20 soldiers dead or wounded; three dead, 10 wounded in Mujahideen attack

25 03 10 U.S base comes under Mujaideen's attack in Nooristan

25 03 10 Remote-controlled bomb kills 6 American troops in Khost