British troops have killed around 16 Iraqi combatants after a patrol was ambushed in southern Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has said.
Two British soldiers were also injured in the gun battle with the Iraqi militia, who were reportedly armed with rocket-propelled grenades, in the Maysan province, north of Basra.
Their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening and they were flown by helicopter to the coalition Shaibah Hospital near Basra.
The gun fight, involving around 35 British soldiers, occurred after a two-vehicle British patrol, carrying between six and eight troops, was fired on by enemy Iraqi forces.
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PA