TWELVE civilians died when a rocket missed its target and hit a house in Marjah, during the US and Afghan offensive against the Taliban.
Three British soldiers have also been killed.
The MoD revealed today that a soldier from 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment was shot dead during a firefight in southern Afghanistan.
Also, Lance Sergeant Dave Greenhalgh, 25, died when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Nad-e-Ali on Saturday.
And another British soldier, from 6 Rifles, died yesterday in an explosion while on foot patrol near Sangin in an unconnected operation.
Asked about the 12 civilian deaths, Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell, said today: “I regret the loss of a British soldier but also the loss of civilian lives.
“This incident involved American troops.
“General McChrystal has rightly suspended the use of this particular rocket system pending an investigation because we are determined to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties to win the hearts and minds of the local population.”
The civilians, who lived in the Taliban stronghold of Marjah in Helmand Province, were killed when two rockets from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) missed their target by about 600 metres.
Isaf – the international military force in Afghanistan – said the use of the rocket system has been suspended pending a “thorough review”.
The death toll now stands at 259 British soldiers who have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan.
Operation Moshtarak involves around 15,000 troops.