British soldiers killed in Afghanistan | UK news

• Press Association
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  Monday 14 February 2011 20.06 GMT

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The British death toll has mounted in Afghanistan after two soldiers were killed in a fire and another was caught in an explosion.

The first two soldiers, from the Royal Logistic Corps, were killed in a "domestic fire" at Camp Bastion in Helmand. The incident, which is under investigation, is not believed to have been caused by enemy action.

Camp Bastion spokesman Wing Commander Martin Tinworth said: "Both soldiers were involved in vital support work for the UK forces who continue to bring hope and stability across Afghanistan. Our heartfelt condolences go out to both soldiers' family and friends at this deeply sad time."

It is thought the blaze could have been caused by a boiler rather than being a kitchen or weapons-related incident.

Another soldier, from 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was killed in a blast in an area in the south of the Nahr-e Saraj district.

A spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Eastman, said: "The soldier was patrolling to reassure the population of an area in the south of Nahr-e Saraj when he was struck by the blast from an improvised explosive device.

"Sadly the insurgents have resorted to planting explosives that target innocent civilians and soldiers indiscriminately, without care for the impact that they have or the destruction they cause.

"The soldier gave his life trying to defend against such senseless inhumanity.

"His courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten, and we offer heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. We will remember him."

Their deaths take the number of UK military personnel who have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001 to 357.

All next of kin have been informed.

The deaths came after a British commander said the tide was turning against the insurgency in Helmand, with morale high among troops.

Brigadier James Chiswell, head of UK forces in Helmand, told the BBC: "There's certainly a sense over this winter period that the insurgency is under a lot of pressure, but perhaps more importantly there's certainly a sense of growing local confidence to shake off the insurgency, and indeed to put their trust in the state."

But he also sounded a note of caution, warning that it was too early to say how successful the past few months had been until summer fighting had taken place.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Liam Fox warned that casualty numbers were "likely to rise" in the spring as insurgent activity increased.

He also told MPs there were regularly well over 10,000 British personnel in Afghanistan, including a "sizeable" contingent of troops involved in special forces operations.