UK soldier killed in Afghan roadside blast
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Dec 22, IRNA -- Britain’s Ministry of Defence Wednesday announced the death of another UK soldier in Afghanistan, the 347th since the overthrow of the Taliban regime in 2001.
The soldier died from injuries after his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb while patrolling the Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand on Tuesday.
Lt Col Eastman, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said the soldier had been 'bringing security and stability to an area previously dominated by insurgent intimidation'.
The death is the 102nd suffered by British soldiers so far this year, six fewer than in the whole of 2009, when there was a record 108 killed.
The number killed has significantly dropped following the redeployment of British troops and replacement by American forces at such outposts as Sangin in Helmand province.
In July, 16 were killed and in August 20. But in September the number dropped to six before falling to three in October, three in November and two so far this month.
Britain is seeking to start reducing its 10,000 troops in Afghanistan from next year and end combat operations by 2015, putting the emphasis on training the Afghan army to take over responsibility for security, similar to the withdrawal from Iraq.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30138146
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