Fifth British soldier killed in Afghan region.

Fifth British soldier killed in Afghan region 'cleared of Taleban'


A British soldier died of gunshot wounds in Helmand province today, the fifth to be killed in the district of Babaji since the end of an operation to clear it of Taleban fighters.The soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, who was serving with The Light Dragoons battlegroup, was shot while on foot patrol.He was the 214th British soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2001, and the 77th to be killed this year. The push, which ended on July 25, lasted five weeks and involved 3,000 troops. Ten British soldiers, including four in Babaji, were killed as three battlegroups fought their way through central Helmand. British military sources said that more than 500 Taleban fighters had been killed or driven from the area. However, since July 25, there have been numerous attacks in or near Babaji. Five soldiers have died in the district, and four more were killed in the area north of Lashkar Gah, which was also part of the Panther’s Claw operation.