Today's news of the death of SAS soldier Signaller Sean McCarthy comes amidst one of the bloodiest periods in the conflict, due a strengthening Taliban insurgency.

More American and coalition-led troops have died in the last month than in any other month since the war began in 2001.

The US army lost 46 soldiers in the month of June, 15 more than it lost during the same period in Iraq. At least 13 British soldiers were killed in the same period.

Three days ago, the single biggest attack in the Afghan capital took place, when a suicide bomber drove an explosives-filled car into the gates of the Indian embassy, killing 41 people.

The attack came two days after an American air strike reportedly killed at least 27 civilians at a wedding party, most of them women and children. US forces have disputed that figure, arguing no women or children were killed and that only militants were killed in the attack.

The strengthening of the Taliban insurgency over the past several years has been marked by an increase in roadside bomb attacks, like the one that killed Signaller McCarthy.

Pentagon figures show that between 2006 and 2007 the incidence of roadside bomb atttacks rose from from 1931 in 2006 to 2615 in 2007.