Eight British soldiers have been killed in 24 hours in Afghanistan, on what was the single bloodiest day for front line combat troops since the Falklands conflict.
Five troops died in an ambush when they were hit by a “massive explosion”, and three others were killed in separate incidents involving the Taliban.
Fifteen British service personnel have now died in Afghanistan in the last 10 days. The deaths bring the British toll in Afghanistan to 184, five more than the total killed in Iraq during the six years that British forces operated there.
Britain’s Chief of Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup insisted the Taliban “are losing” in Afghanistan.
Air Chief Marshal Stirrup said: “Our armed forces in Afghanistan have taken some very sad casualties over the last several days.
“We feel each loss keenly and our hearts go out to the bereaved families, to those who have been wounded and their loved ones. And we will do everything we can to support them in their time of loss and trial.
“But it is important that we also remember why our people are fighting in Afghanistan and what they are achieving through their sacrifice and their courage.
“The mission in Afghanistan is about supporting the delivery of governance in order to reduce the opportunities for extremist terrorist groups who are a direct threat to the United Kingdom, its citizens and their interests. But governance is a complicated issue and can only be delivered where there is sufficient security.”
News of the latest casualties came at the end of a week in which Britain’s eight-year military mission in Afghanistan faced greater scepticism than ever before.
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The truth is that the modern world does not know what real war looks like and hopefully we never will again.