Two soldiers killed in a battle with the Taleban were left without air cover for an hour because of confusion over rules of engagement, an inquest was told yesterday.

The night attack on Taleban positions near Garmsir in Helmand province in Afghanistan came to a halt after Major Jamie Nowell requested an air assault on a trench from which his men were being fired on. The attack by members of 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment was allowed to “engage identified enemy”, but air support was allowed to fire only in self-defence, Major Nowell told the inquests into the deaths of Private John Botha and Sergeant Craig Brelsford.

Major Nowell found this out over the radio as his men came under attack from the trench, which protected at least four Taleban. The confusion meant that the chance to engage the Taleban was lost. He said that the confusion had dented the confidence of commanders on the ground but had had “no real impact” on the operation.

The Wiltshire Coroner, David Masters, said that the confusion had put lives at risk. “It seems to me fundamental that those being asked to deal with an operation like this should be on the same rules of engagement. That should be known from the outset.”

The engagement, on September 8 last year, was nicknamed “operation certain death” by soldiers taking part, the inquest, in Trowbridge, was told.

Mr Masters was also concerned that there was not enough night vision equipment for all the soldiers who needed it. Sergeant Belsford, 25, was awarded a Military Cross after he died trying to recover the body of Private Botha, a South African who was hit when his patrol was attacked. Repeated attempts to reach him were driven back. His body was retrieved the next morning. The inquest resumes today. A soldier who died after an explosion in Afghanistan was unlawfully killed, an inquest in Norwich ruled yesterday. Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins, of East Dereham, Norfolk, died in Sangin about 5.50am on July 25 last year. He was in a military convoy that was hit by a roadside bomb.

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