MoD Information

Search for Missing British Soldiers

Mon, March 24, 2003

Source: Ananova News

Coalition forces are trying to find two British soldiers missing in action in southern Iraq.

Coalition forces are trying to find two British soldiers missing in action in southern Iraq. They went missing near Basra as US and British forces encountered their stiffest resistance so far and suffered their biggest losses.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the first British soldiers reported missing in action have not been seen since an attack on British vehicles on Sunday.

A spokesman said: "There are two British soldiers missing following an attack on British vehicles in south Iraq.
"Efforts are being made to find them and recover them. Further information will be given when available."

The spokesman said they were being deliberately vague about the suspected location of the men for safety and operational reasons.

He added: "The next of kin of the two soldiers have been informed of the situation."

Twelve US soldiers are also missing, presumed captured by Iraqis in an ambush on an army supply convoy at Nasiriyah, Allied Central Command in Qatar said.

Five were paraded on Iraqi TV, prompting outrage in the US and UK. Footage of what appeared to be dead US soldiers was also screened.

The march to Baghdad also left as many as nine US Marines dead in the fighting near Nasiriyah in the south.