Morning:
8°c
Army woman dies in secret SAS operation
Joe Murphy, Political Editor18 Jun 2008
A woman was among four British soldiers killed by a roadside bomb during a secret mission in Afghanistan, it was revealed today.
She is believed to be the first female British soldier to die in action against the Taliban and was a member of the Intelligence Corps. The three men who died were SAS reservists.
They are reported to have been travelling in a Snatch Land Rover which has been criticised for not offering enough protection against bombs. It is thought they were using the vehicle to keep a low profile in Helmand province yesterday.
Gordon Brown paid tribute to the soldiers in the Commons, saying British forces were on the "noblest of missions, fighting for freedom for the Afghans in their own country, and for the world in protecting us from terrorism". He added: "This House and this country is proud of them all."
Nine British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in the last 10 days, marking a sharp upturn in violence as the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force takes on the Taliban in their strongholds.
Five soldiers from 2 Para, based in Colchester, were killed in two incidents in Afghanistan last week.
The latest fatalities occurred during an operation east of Lashkar Gah at 3.40pm local time yesterday. Three of the soldiers were killed immediately when a huge blast struck their vehicle as it passed.
The fourth was pronounced dead after being airlifted to the main Army base of Camp Bastion. A fifth soldier was in a stable condition.
The Ministry of Defence said: "Next of kin have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released."
It is thought the woman soldier may have been taken on the mission in case female suspects had to be searched. She was believed to be attached to 16 Air Assault Brigade.
The attack takes the total British death toll in the country to 106 since the Taliban government was toppled in 2001. It is the biggest single loss of life for British forces in Afghanistan since September 2006, when 14 personnel were killed when an RAF Nimrod came down near Kandahar.
Defence Secretary Des Browne was attending a memorial service for soldiers killed in Afghanistan today when the news broke. "We just have to convince everybody that these sacrifices, these losses, are necessary for the safety of the world," he said.
Tory leader David Cameron said: "When people ask why are we sending our young men and women to fight, and possibly die, in the heat and dust of Afghanistan - let us be absolutely united in saying that their fight is our fight.
"This is a fight against terrorism and extremism, not just in Afghanistan, that affects the safety of our streets and our way of life too." Another two Nato soldiers were killed and 10 injured in a separate incident elsewhere in southern Afghanistan today. The troops came under attack while on patrol in Paktika province. Their nationality has not been confirmed.
Two days ago the Prime Minister announced the deployment of 230 more troops, taking the UK total to more than 8,000 for the first time. A major Nato operation began today to contain rebel forces in neighbouring Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban.
Reader views (3)
So we should let the religious factions fight it out on their own? Like they did in Afghanistan? Then they took over the country, murdered women and men by the day for obscure religious offences, sent the population back into the dark ages, destroyed the economy, and supported their regimes with Opium sales and by providing "room and board" to terrorist groups while they amassed a worldwide network of warriors that eventually led to 9/11 attacks?
Where do you think that movement was spreading next? To take over all the Muslim states in the Middle East and make the world bend to "The Will of Allah" as they defined it.
Yes I think pulling our troops out and letting those countries "solve their own problems with AK-47's and roadside bombs" is a brilliant idea. Well said, Zady, well said.
It's a shame our boys are dying over there, but in the end this is a fight we'd rather have now than later. We've nipped this one in the bud, so to speak. We didn't nip Afghanistan in the bud, and look what happened there.
Crumbling buildings and London bombings appear to be somewhat off the radar do they not? Think that's an accident?
- Wilson, Hartford, CT, 18/06/2008 17:34
Report abuse
We can send in extra troops, but with the modern equipment how can we challenge the Taliban?
We have all the up to date technology and those Chinnooks sitting there after a Mod mess up. Let's give these guys something to fight with!
- Adrian Johnson, London, 18/06/2008 15:17
Report abuse
This is war - pure and simple; one we instigated and one that is probably illegal. Whilst our brave soldiers die on the field (the debt we owe them can never be re-payed), the responsibility for their deaths rests with a government who lied to parliament and the British people to pursue this wretched war. The famous WWI quote by Max Hoffman, (sometimes attributed to Erich Ludendorf) that our soldiers are "Lions led by donkeys" is more poignantly true today than at ever before....
- Zady, London, 18/06/2008 13:55
Report abuse
