British soldier killed during rescue operation in S. Afghanistan

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The combined Afghan and NATO-led forces launched an operation against Taliban in Helmand province 555 km south of capital Kabul which led to the rescue of an Afghan police officer but a British soldier was killed during the operation, a local official said.

"Taliban militants kidnapped the deputy to a police checkpoint in Nahr-e-Saraj district on Sunday but today Afghan and NATO-led forces launched a rescue operation during which the kidnapped police officer named Abdul Wali was rescued but a British soldier was killed," advisor to the provincial governor Abdul Ali Shamsi told Xinhua.

He also said that another British soldier was injured and Abdul Ali is safe and sound.

However, he did not say if any militants were killed during the operation, saying the militants have fled the area.

More than 9,500 British soldiers have been stationed in Afghanistan with majority of them in Helmand province within the framework of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force ( ISAF) to help stabilize security in the conflict-ridden country.

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other sources said: "The Ministry of defence said the soldier from 3rd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, was killed by small arms fire while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province."

Posted in: Afghanistan, British Army, Helmand Province, International Security Assistance Force, NATO, Taliban