British soldier dies in Iraq but 'not as result of enemy activity', MoD says

Officials have informed the soldier's family and say incident is 'currently under investigation'

The Armed Forces Compensation scheme is available to serving and former serving personnel who are injured as a result of their service in the military (Getty)

A British soldier died in Iraq on Monday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

The soldier was from the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, a statement from the MoD said.

It continued: "The death occurred in Taji, Iraq, following an incident that is currently under investigation, but we can confirm that it was not as a result of enemy activity."

Officials have informed the soldier's family, who requested a period of grace be given before the name is released.

The British Army is in Iraq as part of Britain's effort to combat Islamic State (IS) terrorists. In December, 150 soldiers from the deceased soldier's battalion were deployed to Iraq for six months.

They formed part of the 500 strong British Army force which was being sent to the country to train Iraqi and Kurdish security forces.

As part of the UK's role in the 68-member Global Coalition committed to defeating Isis, the 2 LANCS soldiers were being sent to Iraq to provide protection to other British troops training the local security forces in infantry skills, weapons maintenance, medical and engineering.