Three Paras killed in Afghanistan

[Lex]

Three British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The servicemen, from the Parachute Regiment, died north of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province on Thursday afternoon.

The three personnel were killed and a fourth was critically injured when their Jackal armoured vehicle was hit by an explosion and small-arms fire.

The soldiers' families have been told. A total of 195 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001.

The MoD said it was believed that the three soldiers died in the initial blast.

The troops were carrying out a routine security patrol with Afghan national security forces.

July saw more casualties than any other month for UK forces in Afghanistan, with 22 service personnel killed.

Troops are now involved in the second stage of Operation Panther's Claw, which the MoD says is focused on holding ground won from the Taliban in recent weeks.

On Tuesday Craftsman Anthony Lombardi, 21, of Scunthorpe, from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached to the Light Dragoons, died in an explosion.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2009/08/07 10:36:15 GMT