The soldier’s death, which occurred Friday, brought to 425 the number of British troops killed since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001. Of these, at least 385 died as a result of hostile action. “It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must announce that a soldier from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards has died in Afghanistan,” the MoD said in a statement.

“The soldier was on duty in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Friday 17 August when he was killed by enemy action.”

No further details were given about the soldier’s identity.

Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States.

They are based in central Helmand, battling Taliban insurgents and training local security forces. Britain intends to pull out all its combat troops by the end of 2014.