Britain Names Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

He was a specialist assault engineer from 45 Commando Royal Marines.

The Ministry of Defence on Tuesday named a soldier killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan as 24-year-old Royal Marine Alexander Lucas.

Lucas, engaged to be married and with a baby daughter, was killed while on patrol in the Kajaki area of Helmand province on Monday.

He was a specialist assault engineer from 45 Commando Royal Marines.

"He was killed playing a vital part in an essential operation to clear an area of explosive devices in order to improve the safety of his company and the local people," said his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Morris.

Lucas was born in Southampton although he and his family always considered Edinburgh as his home.

He was the 126th British army soldier to die in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion to oust the Taliban.

Britain has about 8,000 troops in Afghanistan, the second-largest contributor of foreign forces in the country after the United States, many based in Helmand where they are engaged in fierce fighting with resurgent Taliban fighters.

U.S. officials said on Saturday that the Pentagon was considering a plan to send more than 20,000 troops to Afghanistan over the next 12 to 18 months to help safeguard elections and quell rising Taliban violence.