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Royal Marine killed by Explosion Marks End of Bloodiest Year

by Tanweer | January 1, 2009 at 07:03 am

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During the invasion of Afghanistan by America and their allies in winter almost the resistance gone down and it was very hard to fight for both side resistance and the NATO in winter. but this year the realities completely different in the ground the resistance not only slow down their attacks were spread from south to east and north of country.

At the start of winter the resistance has several attacks on NATO by Rockets, Road side Explosion and suicide attackers in Kabul, Parwan, Kandahar, Khost, Urazgan, Helmand and other provinces.

the Royal Marine killed in Helmand Province where exteremly fighting continue between NATO and resistance. in last few days the NATO cliam they have killed 90 enemies in Helmand province but the people and resident of helmand told they have been killed innocent and civilian.

The serviceman, from 45 Commando Royal Marines, died on New Year's Eve in the Sangin district of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan.

He is the 12th Royal Marine to die in the past two months and the 51st to die in Afghanistan during 2008, making it the bloodiest year in that country since the start of operations in October 2001.

Commander Paula Rowe, the spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand, said: "Every death is tragic, yet at the turning of the year, with the celebration and hope it promises, this loss is all the harder to bear. All our thoughts go to his family, friends and colleagues who will be devastated by his sacrifice."

The serviceman's next of kin have been informed and further details about his identity will be released in the next few days.

The last fatality was that of Royal Marine Benjamin Whatley, from 42 Commando, who was killed in a gun battle with the Taliban in the Nad-e-Ali district near Lashkar Gah on Christmas Eve.

The 20-year-old lance corporal, from King's Lynn in Norfolk, had been leading his men from the front when he was killed by enemy fire during a "prolonged and fierce" battle with insurgents. His family paid tribute to him as a "vibrant, happy person" with an "unbridled enthusiasm for life".