Two Estonian soldiers killed in missile attack

Two Estonian soldiers were killed in a missile attack in Afghanistan on June 23 - the nation's first casualties in the NATO-led mission.

The two men, members of the Estonian mine clearance team, were attacked with a 107 mm missile during their lunch break in the Sangin Valley in the Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan.

Sgt. Kalle Torn, 24, the assistant commander of the ordnance disposal team, and Jn. Sgt. Jako Karuks, 33, the driver of the team, were named as the deceased. 

Sgt. Kalle Torn

Sgt. Jako Karuks

Four other soldiers sustained injuries in the same attack and remain in medical care at Camp Bastion.

Dutch Army Sgt. Major Jos Leunissen

Dutch Army Sergeant-Major Jos Leunissen, aged 44, was killed in action on 18th June 2007 in a fierce gun battle with Taliban insurgents. The battle took place near the town of Chora in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Major Leunissen served with the elite 11th Airmobile Brigade.

Dutch Army Pfc. Timo Smeehuijzen

Dutch Army Private 1st Class, Timo Smeehuijzen was killed on 15th June 2007 while on patrol in the city of Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province.

The soldier died from the blast of a car bomb that detonated beside him. Five Afghan children also died in the incident.

Pfc. Smeehuijzen, aged 20, was serving with the 42nd Infantry Battalion.

Reporter, Ajmal Naqshbandi

Ajmal Naqshbandi

The Taleban killed Afghan reporter, Ajmal Naqshbandi, who was abducted in May with an Italian journalist, on 4th June 2007. 

The group said it had killed Ajmal Naqshbandi because the government had refused to meet its demands to release senior figures from prison. 

Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo was released after five Taleban members were freed in exchange. The driver, Sayed Agha, was beheaded last month.