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A British soldier died defusing a bomb in southern Afghanistan on Monday, the Ministry of Defence, adding that his death was not linked to a major US-led assault in the south of the country.
The soldier from the 36 Engineer Regiment had been clearing roadside bombs close to Patrol Base Ezaray, near Sangin district centre in Helmand province when the explosion occurred, the ministry said.
"He was one of that unique breed who go out again and again to confront the dangers of IEDs (improvised explosive devices), determined to save lives," said military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield.
"His indomitable courage will not be forgotten."
His death brings to 261 the number of British soldiers killed during operations in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion in 2001. Many of them were killed by IEDs planted by Taliban insurgents.
The soldier was not part of Operation Mushtarak, a campaign launched Saturday involving 15,000 NATO and Afghan troops which aims to clear militants from the Marjah and Nad Ali districts in the poppy-growing central Helmand River valley.
Earlier Monday, the MoD confirmed the death of a British soldier Sunday in the Musa Qaleh district of the southern Helmand Province, also not linked to the Operation Mushtarak.
