By IRNA,
London : Two more British troops have been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, bringing the total UK deaths so far this year to 15, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in London announced Monday.
The latest deaths bring the total number of British fatalities to 152 since launching operations to overthrow the Taleban regime in 2001 and come after another soldier was killed over the weekend while on foot patrol.
The MoD said the latest pair, who have yet to be named, died travelling in an off-road armoured Jackal vehicle in Garmsir district in southern Helmand on Sunday.
“The deaths of these two soldiers will be keenly felt by all in the Task Force and particularly by those who worked alongside them,” said Commander Paula Rowe, spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand.
British troops have suffered increasing numbers of casualties since being deployed in Helmand less than three years ago. In 2006, 39 were killed, 42 the following year and 51 last year, compared to five in the first five years.
Official figures also show growing numbers of US fatalities, rising from 98 in 2008 to 117 the following year, 155 in 2008 and 36 so far this year out of a total of 666.