British soldier killed in Afghanistan

A British soldier has been killed in a battle with militants in southern Afghanistan, amid a surge in Taliban attacks against the foreign forces in the country.

According to British officials, the soldier was shot dead when his foot patrol came under fire in the Nahr-e Saraj area of Helmand Province.

He is the sixth British soldier killed in the war-weary country this month. Since the start of Afghanistan’s invasion nine years ago, 287 British soldiers have lost their lives in the country.

Britain has about 10,000 troops in Afghanistan, mostly based in the south of the country.