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Two British soldiers killed in `friendly fire` near Basra
London, Mar 26: Two British soldiers were killed in a `friendly fire` incident near Basra in southern Iraq, a British military commander has said.
London, Mar 26: Two British soldiers were killed in a "friendly fire" incident near Basra in southern Iraq, a British military commander has said.
In a statement issued yesterday through the ministry of defence in London, Col. Chris Vernon said the two men died when their Challenger II tank was mistakenly targeted by another Challenger crew on Monday evening.
Another two soldiers were seriously injured in the incident and have undergone surgery, vernon said. The ministry of defence named the two men killed as CPL Stephen John Allbutt from Stoke-on-Trent, North of London, and trooper David Jeffrey Clarke from Staffordshire, central England. Their families have been informed, the ministry said.
"It is with regret that I have to announce the death of two soldiers of the Queen's Royal Lancers, part of the 1st Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Battle Group," Vernon said in the statement. "The soldiers were tragically killed last night in a friendly fire incident during a period of multiple engagements from enemy forces on the outskirts of Basra," he said.
The deaths bring to 20 the tally of British servicemen killed since conflict began. Two soldiers have been killed in combat both near Az Zubayr, close to Basra. Another sixteen British soldiers have been killed in two helicopter accidents and a "friendly fire" shooting.
"Regardless of the careful planning and measures taken in the type of operations in which we were engaged and in the heat of battle, there is always a risk that incidents such as this might happen," Vernon said. Bureau Report
Another two soldiers were seriously injured in the incident and have undergone surgery, vernon said. The ministry of defence named the two men killed as CPL Stephen John Allbutt from Stoke-on-Trent, North of London, and trooper David Jeffrey Clarke from Staffordshire, central England. Their families have been informed, the ministry said.
"It is with regret that I have to announce the death of two soldiers of the Queen's Royal Lancers, part of the 1st Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Battle Group," Vernon said in the statement. "The soldiers were tragically killed last night in a friendly fire incident during a period of multiple engagements from enemy forces on the outskirts of Basra," he said.
The deaths bring to 20 the tally of British servicemen killed since conflict began. Two soldiers have been killed in combat both near Az Zubayr, close to Basra. Another sixteen British soldiers have been killed in two helicopter accidents and a "friendly fire" shooting.
"Regardless of the careful planning and measures taken in the type of operations in which we were engaged and in the heat of battle, there is always a risk that incidents such as this might happen," Vernon said. Bureau Report