Three British special forces soldiers were reportedly wounded in an ambush by Isil fighters in Iraq.
The men from the SAS and its naval counterpart, the SBS, were part of a 25-strong unit of allied troops from British, German and US special forces, spying on Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil) positions near the northern city of Mosul, the Daily Mirror said.
They suffered shrapnel injuries when they were fired upon with rocket propelled grenades and 50-calibre guns, the newspaper reported. After receiving treatment on the ground they were given a medical evacuation back to Britain, where they are recovering.
The injuries are believed to be the first major military injuries to British forces in the ground war against Islamic State - but according to the Mirror, the bravery of the troops has not been acknowledged because ministers do not want to confirm British soldiers are engaged in a war on the ground with Isil.
