British commanders have said the ongoing offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan was going well, despite the deaths of three servicemen in as many days.
A soldier from 28 Engineer Regiment, attached to the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, died after being caught in a blast near a check point in Nad-e-Ali, Helmand.
His next of kin have been informed and he is expected to be named later.
US officials also revealed a new military operation will be launched later this year in a bid to wrestle control of Kandahar from the Taliban.
The top US general in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has previously said he intends to target the city, dubbed the Taliban's "capital", after the current offensive.
Tributes have been paid to Rifleman Martin Kinggett from A Company 4 Rifles who was shot dead in Sangin on Thursday and to Senior Aircraftman Luke Southgate, who died in an explosion north of Kandahar Airfield on Wednesday.
Rfn Kinggett, 19, was killed while providing covering fire so an injured colleague could be evacuated.
SAC Southgate, from Bury St Edmunds, died just 14 days short of his 21st birthday.
Speaking in London earlier, Major General Gordon Messenger said: "Insurgent activity across the area is levelling off and in some cases experiencing a bit of a lull, but some problem areas remain."
He said General Nick Carter, Commander of Nato forces in southern Afghanistan, "remains very confident about how it's going".
