Another British soldier killed in Afghan explosion
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, May 15, IRNA – Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced Friday that another UK soldier had been killed in an explosion in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.
The soldier, from The Royal Marines Armoured Support Group, was killed on Thursday while travelling in a Viking armoured vehicle near Lashkar Gah, the MoD said.
The latest British death is the sixth in the past 8 days and brings the total UK fatalities so far this year to 20, including 14 as the result of explosions.
A parliamentary report Friday warned that British troops in Afghanistan are having to use obsolete and out-of-date kit because of delays to major equipment projects.
Projects hit by delays include the new Terrier armoured vehicle and the Soothsayer electronic warfare system, forcing the Ministry of Defence to buy extra stop-gap vehicles and continue with the use of obsolete equipment in Afghanistan.
On Thursday, the government’s watchdog, the National Audit Office (NAO) also revealed that British soldiers in Afghanistan were suffering from delays in receiving essential equipment, with more than half the demands for urgent operational equipment not being met.
The NAO also reported that new Vector armoured vehicles designed to give troops greater protection against Taliban attacks were being withdrawn after performing so badly and that commanders have had to resort to the old Land Rovers they were designed to replace.
The latest killing brings the total number of British deaths in Afghanistan since beginning operations in 2001 to 159, 20 less than those killed in Iraq.
Those killed as a result of hostile action is put at 130, eight fewer than in Iraq.
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