2006年VOA标准英语-Taleban Ambush Kills British Soldiers in Southe

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
01 August 2006

 
British soldiers from the 2nd Battallion Royal Regiment¹ of Fusiliers arrive at Kabul International Airport (File photo -July 12, 2006) 
  
Three British soldiers were killed during a suspected Taleban ambush² on NATO forces in southern Afghanistan. The attack comes just one day after NATO took command of security operations in the country's insurgency-wracked southern provinces. 

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NATO spokesman Mark Laity³ says the well-armed insurgents⁴ ambushed⁵ the British patrol Tuesday morning in northern Helmand Province.

"Insurgents attacked with rocket propelled grenades and machine gun fire, obviously we are all very sad at this tragic⁶ event," said Laity.

The attack comes a day after NATO took over international security operations in the region, which is the Taleban's traditional stronghold.

The western alliance has around 8,000 troops in six southern provinces. Britain has committed more than 4,000 soldiers to the international force.

NATO officials say the operation is probably the alliance's toughest mission in its 57-year history.

Previously⁷, U.S. forces had command of the security operations. The U.S. troops now will focus on the hunt for terrorist organizations and will support the NATO operation. 

Attacks in the south have surged in recent weeks, including a series of suicide attacks and roadside bombs.

Security experts say Taleban insurgents are targeting NATO forces to try to discourage the relatively⁸ untested troops.

Spokesman Mark Laity says the alliance is obviously mourning Tuesday's loss of life but the latest attack has not diminished NATO's resolve.

"We knew the south was a challenging environment and sadly we saw evidence of that today but our mission is unchanged and our will is unchanged and we are going to carry on and do the job we set out to do," he said.

This has been Afghanistan's bloodiest⁹ year since 2001, when U.S.-led forces ousted¹⁰ the hard-line Islamic Taleban government.

The country's lawless southern provinces have been hardest hit by the violence this year.

In the past four months alone, more than 800 people, mostly militants¹¹, have been killed.

1 regiment   

n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制

参考例句：

• As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
• They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。

2 ambush   

n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击

参考例句：

• Our soldiers lay in ambush in the jungle for the enemy.我方战士埋伏在丛林中等待敌人。
• Four men led by a sergeant lay in ambush at the crossroads.由一名中士率领的四名士兵埋伏在十字路口。

3 laity   

n.俗人；门外汉

参考例句：

• The Church and the laity were increasingly active in charity work.教会与俗众越来越积极参与慈善工作。
• Clergy and laity alike are divided in their views.神职人员和信众同样都观点各异。

4 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

5 ambushed   

v.埋伏( ambush的过去式和过去分词 )；埋伏着

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The military vehicles were ambushed. 军车遭到伏击。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

7 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

8 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

9 bloodiest   

adj.血污的( bloody的最高级 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的

参考例句：

• The Russians were going to suffer their bloodiest defeat of all before Berlin. 俄国人在柏林城下要遭到他们的最惨重的失败。 来自辞典例句
• It was perhaps the bloodiest hour in the history of warfare. 这也许是战争史上血腥味最浓的1个小时。 来自互联网

10 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

11 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。