A SOLDIER from the Royal Regiment of Scotland was killed in southern Afghanistan yesterday, the Ministry of Defence said.
The soldier was part of a joint British-Afghan patrol which was hit by an explosion. Next of kin have been informed.
Brigadier-General Richard Blanchette, the spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), said: "It is with grea
t sorrow that we must announce this brave soldier's death as we offer our sympathies to this soldier's loved ones.
"We have the utmost respect and admiration for the Isaf troops who operate in this challenging environment," said Brigadier-Gen Blanchette.
The soldier who died was a member of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland on attachment with the 1st Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment, and was killed when an improvised explosive device went off during the patrol in the Gereshk region of Helmand province.
One other Isaf soldier, an Afghan National Army soldier and the patrol's interpreter, were also injured in the attack. They were airlifted to Camp Bastion.
Lieutenant-Colonel David Reynolds, a spokesman for the British Army, said: "Everyone in Task Force Helmand is affected by the death of a soldier, and the thoughts and sympathies of us all are with the family."
The fatality brings the total number of British military deaths in Afghanistan to 116 since the start of operations in November 2001.
The full article contains 237 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
