By IRNA,
London : Britain’s Ministry of Defence Monday announced the death of the 300th UK soldier with the rate of fatalities reaching 13 per 1,000 personnel.
The latest fatality was a Royal Marine, who died at the New Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham, central England after being aeromedically evacuated to Britain.
The soldier was gravely injured in an explosion while on patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand on June 12, the same day when another marine had died from being wounded by small arms fire at the same hospital last week.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox praised the deployment of Britain’s armed forces in Afghanistan, saying they were “operating daily in the most dangerous and demanding conditions” and that “some have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure this essential mission succeeds.”
“Their efforts will bring security and stability to Afghanistan and prevent it from once again becoming a base from which terrorists can attack the UK and our allies around the world,” Fox insisted.
Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, argued that the news of the 300th death would increase the determination of the troops on the ground.
“Our armed forces take enormous pride in their role in Afghanistan where they are helping to provide security to protect our freedoms at home,” Stirrup said.
Last week Prime Minister David Cameron warned MPs there would be more British casualties over the summer, saying the war had reached a critical phase.
Out of the 300 deaths occurred since the 2001 overthrow of the Taliban regime, most have been victims of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted beside roads, but half among recent casualties have been from small arms fire.
Although the US has lost far more soldiers, a UK report has found that the rate of British deaths has been almost four times higher.
The analysis, by the Medical Research Council at Cambridge University, showed the death rate reached 13 per 1,000 personnel in the 12 months to May.