Three soldiers killed in Helmand 'friendly fire'

It is believed they were killed by a bomb dropped from a US F15 aircraft to repel Taliban insurgents.

The soldiers' next of kin have been informed, the MoD said.

The patrol was intended to disrupt Taliban activity and reassure local residents.

The soldiers called in close air support from two US F15s after coming under intense attack from insurgents.

The MoD said: "One bomb was dropped and it is believed the explosion killed the three soldiers.

"The three soldiers were declared dead at the scene. The injured soldiers were evacuated by helicopter to the medical facility at Camp Bastion for treatment.

"The events surrounding the incident are subject to an investigation."

The deaths take the number of British military fatalities in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001 to 73.