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11/08/2006
UK troops to lead major offensive in Afghanistan
British troops are to lead a major combat offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan, it has been confirmed.
Around 10,000 Nato troops - around 5,000 of them from Britain - will be involved in the offensive, alongside a similar number of Afghan soldiers.
The campaign - which will be led by Lieutenant General David Richards, commander of the International Security Assistance Force - is believed to be the biggest task force led by a British officer since World War II.
It will focus on four southern provincial capitals - Kandahar, Qalat, Tarin Kowt and Lashkar Gar in the volatile Helmand province, which has been the scene of much of the fighting between British troops and Taliban fighters and has seen the most British fatalities.
Lt Gen Richards admitted that British soldiers were tired, but said that confidence was still high among the troops. He said: "They are tired, but morale is very high. They know what we are trying to do, which is to get on the front foot.
"They need a bit of a rest because some of them have been out there for over 40 days and almost nightly have come under attack.
"Some of these soldiers have been under constant attack almost daily for about a month, but they have always stood their ground, retained their position in the villages and killed - sadly in some respects - a lot of Taliban."
(KMcA)
Around 10,000 Nato troops - around 5,000 of them from Britain - will be involved in the offensive, alongside a similar number of Afghan soldiers.
The campaign - which will be led by Lieutenant General David Richards, commander of the International Security Assistance Force - is believed to be the biggest task force led by a British officer since World War II.
It will focus on four southern provincial capitals - Kandahar, Qalat, Tarin Kowt and Lashkar Gar in the volatile Helmand province, which has been the scene of much of the fighting between British troops and Taliban fighters and has seen the most British fatalities.
Lt Gen Richards admitted that British soldiers were tired, but said that confidence was still high among the troops. He said: "They are tired, but morale is very high. They know what we are trying to do, which is to get on the front foot.
"They need a bit of a rest because some of them have been out there for over 40 days and almost nightly have come under attack.
"Some of these soldiers have been under constant attack almost daily for about a month, but they have always stood their ground, retained their position in the villages and killed - sadly in some respects - a lot of Taliban."
(KMcA)
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