Post by cammy on Jul 25, 2009 7:30:33 GMT 1
The high number of troops killed and wounded on the battlefield has led defence chiefs to send urgent reinforcements to southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence announced tonight.
In an unprecedented move, 125 personnel, some of them explosives experts, are being flown to Helmand where British forces have suffered the biggest attrition rate since the campaign against the Taliban and other insurgent groups began more than three years ago.
Within the past month, 19 British soldiers have been killed in Helmand and well over a hundred have been wounded, most of them in intensive fighting during Operation Panther's Claw, a major offensive designed to clear the enemy out of key area.
It is the first time reinforcements have been deployed to replace British casualties in Helmand.
The MoD said that since deploying to Afghanistan in April, 19 Light Brigade has been engaged in a number of high-intensity operations.
"Most recently, Operation Panchai Palang (Panther's Claw) has seen British forces engaged in hard fighting in an effort to bring security to parts of Helmand previously under Taleban influence," said the MoD in a statement.
It added: "The operation has been extremely successful, driving fighters out of towns and providing the necessary security that will allow Afghan families to vote in next month's presidential elections".
But the statement, rushed out last night, continued: "This intense period has resulted in a significant number of casualties, both due to enemy action and the harsh terrain in which they operate."
Today's announcement follows requests by commanders on the ground to enable them to sustain the required operational effectiveness for the remainder of their tour, in particular, through the election period.
Bob Ainsworth, the defence secretary, said: "I have always said that I will listen to the view of commanders on the ground in Afghanistan – they are the people best placed to know the resources needed for that operation. In this case they have told me that, after the sad and tragic casualty rate that we have suffered in recent weeks, reinforcements are necessary to ensure we can maintain our operational tempo and consolidate the real progress we have made."
He added: "These additional troops will ensure we have sufficient troop levels and, crucially, the right specialist skills in theatre. Many of our brave young men have died fighting to protect our national interest in Afghanistan and I will not allow their sacrifices to have been in vain."
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the Chief of the Defence Staff, said soldiers taking part in the Operation Panther's Claw offensive had faced an "enormous battle" to break through the Taliban defences.
However, he said they had also inflicted "enormous numbers of casualties" on the enemy in their stronghold in central Helmand province.
"It has been very tough, very hard fighting because Helmand is for the Taliban their vital ground. They are very, very unwilling to give it up," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One.
"This is a tough military campaign, it is far from over, there will be hard fighting to come.
The reinforcements, who will start flying out to Helmand on Monday, will comprise a company from 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's), specialist counter improvised explosive devices specialists from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, and members of 19th Regiment Royal Artillery. They will deploy for the remainder of the current 19 Light Brigade tour, which is due to end in October when 11 Light Brigade take over.
All of them have received the appropriate training and personal equipment for conducting operations in Afghanistan, the MoD said.
There are 9,000 British troops in Helmand.
In an unprecedented move, 125 personnel, some of them explosives experts, are being flown to Helmand where British forces have suffered the biggest attrition rate since the campaign against the Taliban and other insurgent groups began more than three years ago.
Within the past month, 19 British soldiers have been killed in Helmand and well over a hundred have been wounded, most of them in intensive fighting during Operation Panther's Claw, a major offensive designed to clear the enemy out of key area.
It is the first time reinforcements have been deployed to replace British casualties in Helmand.
The MoD said that since deploying to Afghanistan in April, 19 Light Brigade has been engaged in a number of high-intensity operations.
"Most recently, Operation Panchai Palang (Panther's Claw) has seen British forces engaged in hard fighting in an effort to bring security to parts of Helmand previously under Taleban influence," said the MoD in a statement.
It added: "The operation has been extremely successful, driving fighters out of towns and providing the necessary security that will allow Afghan families to vote in next month's presidential elections".
But the statement, rushed out last night, continued: "This intense period has resulted in a significant number of casualties, both due to enemy action and the harsh terrain in which they operate."
Today's announcement follows requests by commanders on the ground to enable them to sustain the required operational effectiveness for the remainder of their tour, in particular, through the election period.
Bob Ainsworth, the defence secretary, said: "I have always said that I will listen to the view of commanders on the ground in Afghanistan – they are the people best placed to know the resources needed for that operation. In this case they have told me that, after the sad and tragic casualty rate that we have suffered in recent weeks, reinforcements are necessary to ensure we can maintain our operational tempo and consolidate the real progress we have made."
He added: "These additional troops will ensure we have sufficient troop levels and, crucially, the right specialist skills in theatre. Many of our brave young men have died fighting to protect our national interest in Afghanistan and I will not allow their sacrifices to have been in vain."
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the Chief of the Defence Staff, said soldiers taking part in the Operation Panther's Claw offensive had faced an "enormous battle" to break through the Taliban defences.
However, he said they had also inflicted "enormous numbers of casualties" on the enemy in their stronghold in central Helmand province.
"It has been very tough, very hard fighting because Helmand is for the Taliban their vital ground. They are very, very unwilling to give it up," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One.
"This is a tough military campaign, it is far from over, there will be hard fighting to come.
The reinforcements, who will start flying out to Helmand on Monday, will comprise a company from 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's), specialist counter improvised explosive devices specialists from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, and members of 19th Regiment Royal Artillery. They will deploy for the remainder of the current 19 Light Brigade tour, which is due to end in October when 11 Light Brigade take over.
All of them have received the appropriate training and personal equipment for conducting operations in Afghanistan, the MoD said.
There are 9,000 British troops in Helmand.