A British soldier was killed in southern Iraq today, the first known member of British ground forces to die in combat since the war began, the Ministry of Defence in London said.
"We can confirm that a British soldier was killed in action this morning," a ministry spokesman said. "His next of kin have been told. We're not releasing any other details at all at the moment."
He added that two other soldiers were still missing after the convoy in which they were travelling in southern Iraq came under fire on Sunday.
Since the US-led invasion of Iraq began Thursday, 14 British marines and naval air crew have died in two helicopter accidents, while two Royal Air Force crew died when their Tornado bomber was hit by a US missile.
Military sources said the British soldier was killed early this morning during an operation near Al Zubayr, south of Iraq's second city Basra where Iraqi forces have been resisting.
AFP