British soldier killed in Afghanistan explosion, two injured

An explosion struck a vehicle in southern Afghanistan, killing a British soldier and wounding two others, the Ministry of Defense said Friday.

The soldier from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles died Thursday. The blast occurred as the troops were returning to their airfield base in Kandahar after taking part in operations approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of the city, the ministry said.

The casualties were taken by helicopter to a medical facility at the largest coalition base in the region, Camp Bastion.

The ministry did not identify the soldiers, but said their next of kin had been informed.

Britain has about 7,000 troops in Afghanistan, where they are engaged in fierce, and increasingly bloody, fighting against the resurgent Taliban in Helmand province.

Eighty-two British personnel, including 57 soldiers, have been killed in Afghanistan since operations began there in November 2001.