Three British Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

Three British soldiers from the Parachute Regiment were killed yesterday in Afghanistan, taking the total number of British casualties to 195. A fourth soldier was injured and remains in a critical condition from the roadside ambush. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the men died yesterday afternoon on a routine security patrol alongside Afghan security forces to the north of Lashkar Gah. Their Jackal vehicle was hit first by an explosion and then by gunfire. Their families have been notified. The MoD said they had requested a period of grace before names and any further details were released. A spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan paid tribute to the three soldiers. Brigadier-General Eric Tremblay said: "We are very saddened by the death of these fine soldiers and stand behind their bereaved families, friends and comrades. "Our forces risk their lives every day to help eliminate Taliban oppression in Afghanistan. The insurgents have so many times proven to be ruthless to Afghans who dare not to co-operate with them or refuse to turn a blind eye to their criminal and brutal activities." Their deaths follow the loss on Tuesday of Anthony Lombardi, a 22-year-old vehicle mechanic, who was driving with a supply convoy when it was hit by a roadside bomb near Lashkar Gar. July was the bloodiest month for British troops in the eight years of the war, with 22 deaths. The armed forces minister, Bill Rammell, insisted this week after a visit to Helmand province that morale remained high and the troops had a "clear sense of purpose", but the deaths come against a background of growing criticism of the equipping of British forces and the point of their continuing presence. Troops are now committed to the second stage of Operation Panther's Claw, which the MoD says is focused on holding ground won from the Taliban in recent weeks. Nato's new secretary general said today that more troops were needed if the mission in Afghanistan was to be successful. Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Nato would need to step up military efforts in the "coming months and years", alongside increased civil reconstruction. Speaking from Afghanistan on BBC Radio 4's Today program, he said: "Honestly speaking I think we need more troops. I have seen progress in the south, not least thanks to the increase in the number of troops. So definitely the number of troops matters. "However, we also have to realize that there is no military solution solely. We have to provide the Afghan people with better life opportunities as well if we are to win hearts and minds, and this will be at the core of our new strategy."