Four British Soldiers Killed

Four British Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

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The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the deaths of four UK soldiers in Afghanistan - including the first British woman to die in active service since the conflict began.

Next of kin have been informed.

The deaths take the number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001 to 106.

It is the biggest single loss of life for UK forces in the country since September 2006, when 14 were killed during an RAF Nimrod crash near Kandahar.

Sky defence correspondent Geoff Meade said the woman - an intelligence officer - was the first British female to lose her life in Afghanistan. Six have been killed in Iraq.

Meade, with British forces in Afghanistan, said: "This is another sad landmark in the campaign.

"The news came this morning and was effectively confirmed by the foreign secretary David Miliband who spoke about British families mourning the tragic loss of their sons and daughters."

Mr Miliband, speaking to Sky News, also said: "This is certainly grim news and I extend our deepest condolences to the families concerned."

The troops were taking part in an operation east of Lashkar Gah headquarters when their vehicle was hit by an explosion yesterday afternoon.

Three were killed in the blast and two others were evacuated by medics to Camp Bastion, where one died.

The injured soldier is in a stable condition.

An MoD spokesman said: "It is with deep regret that MoD must confirm the deaths of one Intelligence Corps soldier and three other British soldiers in Afghanistan."

:: The deaths were confirmed as a major Afghan army operation to drive the Taliban out of villages near Kandahar began.