Six UK Soldiers Missing in Afghanistan
Six UK soldiers are missing, believed killed, in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.
Five from the 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and one from the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment were on patrol on Tuesday when their vehicle was hit by an explosion.
The families of the soldiers have been informed.
If the deaths are confirmed, the toll on the British military since 2001 will stand at 404.
Lt Col Gordon Mackenzie, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: “I have the tragic duty to report that six soldiers are missing, believed killed, during a security patrol.
“The six soldiers… were on patrol in a Warrior armoured fighting vehicle when it was caught in an explosion in the task force Helmand area of operations.”
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: “This tragic incident brings home to us the dangers that are faced on a daily basis by the men and women of our armed forces deployed in Afghanistan.
“I utterly condemn those responsible for this incident, who will ultimately fail to derail a mission that is protecting our national security at home and making real progress in Helmand province - a testament to the bravery, commitment and professionalism of our armed forces.”
He added that the armed forces’ continuing efforts, together with the Afghan National Security Forces, meant “we are on course to build an Afghanistan that can stand on its own two feet when UK combat operations cease at the end of 2014 and never again becomes a haven for international terrorism”.