Six NATO troops killed in Afghan copter crash, bombings
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
KABUL, June 21 (AFP): Six NATO soldiers were killed in three separate incidents Monday in southern Afghanistan, where the US-led alliance is mounting an ambitious campaign to flush out Taliban militants, the military said.
In the deadliest incident, three Australian commandos and a US soldier were killed when their helicopter crashed in the southern province of Kandahar, the single worst loss of life for the Australian military in the Afghan war.
Another two NATO troops were killed in separate bomb explosions but their nationalities have not been released.
Britain also announced a grim toll of 300 dead in Afghanistan after one of its soldiers died from wounds suffered in an explosion earlier this month in the neighbouring southern province of Helmand.
The deaths brought to 281 the number of foreign soldiers killed in Afghanistan this year, according to an AFP tally based on figures kept by the independent icasualties.org website.
Much of southern Afghanistan is blighted by the Taliban insurgency, now in its deadliest phase since the conflict began almost nine years ago after the US-led invasion ousted the hardline Islamist regime.
The US military has warned that casualty tolls will inevitably climb as foreign forces build up their campaign to oust the militants from Kandahar, the Taliban heartland and a hotbed of bombings, assassinations and lawlessness.
Australia said Monday's helicopter crash, which killed three Australian commandos, was not caused by enemy fire but was the country's deadliest single incident in the nearly nine-year conflict.
Meanwhile, a British marine has died of injuries sustained in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said Monday, taking the country's total military death toll in the conflict to 300.
The grim landmark comes during a year which has already seen the second-highest number of British fatalities since operations began in 2001 -- 55.
"It is desperately sad news. Another family with such grief and pain and loss. Of course the 300th death is no more or less tragic than the 299 that came before," said Prime Minister David Cameron.
"But it is a moment, I think, for the whole country to reflect on the incredible service and sacrifice and dedication that our armed services give on our behalf."
In the deadliest incident, three Australian commandos and a US soldier were killed when their helicopter crashed in the southern province of Kandahar, the single worst loss of life for the Australian military in the Afghan war.
Another two NATO troops were killed in separate bomb explosions but their nationalities have not been released.
Britain also announced a grim toll of 300 dead in Afghanistan after one of its soldiers died from wounds suffered in an explosion earlier this month in the neighbouring southern province of Helmand.
The deaths brought to 281 the number of foreign soldiers killed in Afghanistan this year, according to an AFP tally based on figures kept by the independent icasualties.org website.
Much of southern Afghanistan is blighted by the Taliban insurgency, now in its deadliest phase since the conflict began almost nine years ago after the US-led invasion ousted the hardline Islamist regime.
The US military has warned that casualty tolls will inevitably climb as foreign forces build up their campaign to oust the militants from Kandahar, the Taliban heartland and a hotbed of bombings, assassinations and lawlessness.
Australia said Monday's helicopter crash, which killed three Australian commandos, was not caused by enemy fire but was the country's deadliest single incident in the nearly nine-year conflict.
Meanwhile, a British marine has died of injuries sustained in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said Monday, taking the country's total military death toll in the conflict to 300.
The grim landmark comes during a year which has already seen the second-highest number of British fatalities since operations began in 2001 -- 55.
"It is desperately sad news. Another family with such grief and pain and loss. Of course the 300th death is no more or less tragic than the 299 that came before," said Prime Minister David Cameron.
"But it is a moment, I think, for the whole country to reflect on the incredible service and sacrifice and dedication that our armed services give on our behalf."