UK airman killed in Afghan insurgent attack

The Ministry of Defence says a British soldier has been killed in an insurgent attack while patrolling southern Afghanistan. The ministry said in a statement that the airman from the Royal Air Force regiment was on a routine patrol Monday in the Western Dashte area of Nad-e Ali, Helmand Province, when he was fatally wounded by small arms fire.
The ministry did not identify the soldier, but said his family has been informed. The death brings to 398 the total number of British forces who have died while serving in Afghanistan since the start of the war in October 2001.