 On 28 December, Rfn Aidan Howell from 3rd Battalion The Rifles, died in an explosion while on patrol in the Kajaki area of Helmand province.This casualty brought the number of British soldiers killed in the conflict since 2001 to 244, including 107 in 2009.On 31 December, Sapper David Watson from Royal Engineers, died in an explosion while on patrol in the Sangin area of Helmand province.