11:30am Friday 10th July 2009
© Press Association 2011
The bodies of five soldiers killed in one of the bloodiest weeks for British forces in Afghanistan have been flown home.
Four of the men were taking part in Operation Panchai Palang, or Panther's Claw, a major assault against the Taliban in Helmand Province ahead of the Afghan elections.
The C17 aircraft carrying their coffins arrived at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, where a repatriation ceremony was being held.
After the ceremony, hearses carrying the men's coffins will pass along the high street of nearby Wootton Bassett, which is expected to be lined with hundreds of mourners.
Earlier it was announced that another two British soldiers have died in southern Afghanistan, taking the death toll to nine in nine days.
The first, from 4th Battalion The Rifles, was killed in an explosion while on foot patrol near Nad-e-Ali in Helmand Province on Thursday afternoon.
The other soldier, from Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, died from a gunshot wound following a battle with insurgents near Lashkar Gah in Helmand on Thursday night.
The second serviceman was taking part in Operation Panchai Palang, or Panther's Claw, a major assault against the Taliban in Helmand ahead of next month's Afghan elections.
Task Force Helmand spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson said: "These fine British soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice and their memory will live with us forever. We mourn their loss and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends at this very sad time. We know that their deaths were not in vain."
The soldiers' next of kin have been informed.
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