News Brief – September 4, 2006
Another British soldier has been killed and a further three injured in a suspected suicide bombing in Afghanistan.
His death brings the total number of British servicemen killed in Afghanistan since the beginning of August to twenty-eight.
The latest death in Afghanistan came as it was announced that two further British soldiers were killed in southern Iraq and a third seriously wounded.
The soldiers in Iraq were killed when a roadside bomb hit their patrol, said British military spokesman.
In Afghanistan, British military spokesmen said a four-wheel drive vehicle laden with explosives was driven at a British military convoy.
In recent weeks fighting has intensified in Afghanistan as Nato forces sought to dislodge the Taliban from their stronghold in southern Afghanistan.
However, the going is proving tougher than expected, although if the British had looked back at history they might have realised that Afghanistan has proved a death trap for various armies: from the British Empires ill fated incursions in Victorian times, to the Red Army’s more recent failure there in the 1980’s.
But like they say: those who don’t learn from history’s mistakes are doomed to repeat them.
In addition to the British soldiers killed and wounded by the Taliban, Nato also announced further Nato casualties .
Nato warplanes killed one Nato soldier and wounded several others in a " friendly fire" incident in southern Afghanistan, Nato said in a statement today.
The strafing occurred during a Nato-led anti-Taliban operation in Kandahar province's Panjwayi district after ground troops requested air support.
"Two ISAF (Nato's International Security Assistance Force) aircraft provided the support but regrettably engaged friendly forces during a strafing run, using cannons," the statement said.
There were "multiple casualties" caused in the air raid, including one Nato soldier who was killed.
Nato has not yet disclosed his nationality or the number and nationality of those wounded in the incident.
Last updated 06/09/2006
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