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LONDON, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- A British court ruled Parliament must approve Brexit plans before beginning the two-year countdown to the country's formal departure from the European Union.

The ruling by a panel of London judges is likely setting up a Supreme Courtconfrontation for the final move in Britain's exit from the bloc. It is widely seen as a setback for Prime Minister Theresa May's plan to trigger Article 50, the formal process that begins the two-year window for an exit.

"If notice is given under Article 50, it will inevitably have the effect of changing domestic law," the judges said.

The legal action was brought by several residents who challenged the legality of the government to utilize Article 50 of the Libson Treaty that triggers Britain's exit from the bloc without consulting Parliament. May has said she has the right to move ahead without parliamentary approval.

A government spokesman said the legal decision will be taken before the Supreme Court in early December.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urged the government to begin negotiating with Parliament immediately, saying "there must be transparency and accountability to Parliament on the terms of Brexit."

In June, British voters shocked the world when they voted to leave the 28-nation European Union, prompting British Prime Minister David Cameron to step down.

U.N.: At least 239 migrants likely dead after Libya shipwrecks

ROME, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The United Nations on Thursday said it spoke to survivors who said at least 239 migrants likely died after two ships capsized off the coast of Libya.

Carlotta Sami, a Rome-based spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' Southern Europe division, said a rescue operation was launched in the Mediterranean Sea but survivors said at least 239 people are missing and are likely dead.

At least six children were aboard the boats.

In late October, the United Nations said death toll of refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean so far in 2016 has surpassed last year's total with about two months left in the year.

"This brings the number of those that died looking for safety in EU to 4,220," Sami said of the year's totals.

The United Nations estimates 3,771 migrants died in 2015. A migrant crisisescalated throughout 2015 and continued in 2016 as people fled conflict and poverty in Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea and Iraq. Migrants have arrived in Europe via the Mediterranean Sea and also by land through Turkey and Greece.

Last year, about 1,015,000 people crossed the Mediterranean to Europe. This year, about 330,000 have made the crossing so far.

The United Nations said there are several explanations for the increase in migrant deaths this year when there were fewer people attempting to cross.

They include more migrants attempting to travel from North Africa to Italy, which is a more dangerous route, and that smugglers are attempting to take thousands of people at a time in perilous conditions.

Two U.S. soldiers die in Kunduz, Afghanistan, attack

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Two U.S. Special Operations soldiers died and two others were injured Thursday during a battle in Afghanistan's Kunduz province, military officials said.

Afghan government troops and elite U.S. forces on a "train, advise, assist" mission were targeting Taliban commanders northeast of the city of Kunduz when they came under heavy gunfire, officials from the U.S.-led coalition said. Three Afghan special forces troops also died in the attack.

The names of the victims were not immediately reported.

"Despite today's tragic event, we are steadfast in our commitment to help our Afghan partners defend their nation," said Army Gen. John Nicholson, the United States' top military commander in Afghanistan.

The city of Kunduz was captured by Taliban militants in October for the second time this year, but was freed by U.S. and Afghan troops after 10 days of fighting. The Taliban remain in the suburbs, and urban residents fear another attack may soon come. The back-and-forth nature of the city's control is indicative of the Afghan government's tenuous hold on security and its military's dependence on the United States for aerial and ground support, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

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