United kingdom troops depart Helmand's Sangin

British aids in Afghanistan have handed more than duty for safety in Sangin to US aids, marking the finish of their four-year mission inside region.

The 1,000 Royal Marines as well as other personnel are staying redeployed to central Helmand province.

The uk has suffered its heaviest losses in Sangin. In the 337 United kingdom deaths considering that 2001, a third have happened there.

Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox stated United kingdom troops must be "proud of their achievements".

He stated Sangin was "one with the most challenging areas of Afghanistan".

"The degree of sacrifice may be high and we must certainly not overlook the numerous brave troops who may have missing their lives inside pursuit of success in an worldwide mission rooted firmly in our own personal nationwide safety inside United kingdom," he stated.

British troops will redeploy to central Helmand, exactly where they'll continue to lead the combat in opposition to the insurgency and help in making a stable and secure Afghanistan, he included.

United kingdom aids have been inside region considering that 2006, and 106 United kingdom personnel have been killed, 36 this twelve months alone. The MoD announced in July that British troops had been to get replaced by US aids.

Handle was formally handed more than from United kingdom aids for the US Marine Corps at 0630 BST.

The BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul stated there could well be a physical handover, using the union jack lowered plus the US flag raised, but little would modify on a sensible degree.

He stated some members with the 40 Commando Challenge Team experienced previously left, plus the handover could well be staggered more than the coming weeks.

Describing it as a "totemic" instant to the United kingdom, he stated Sangin was essentially the most risky district in Helmand - if not the entire of Afghanistan.

On the current go to for the region, he witnessed a very long battle through which several US soldiers, Afghan soldiers and civilians sustained injuries.

"Although development may be manufactured, the region stays really tough. It's a critical battleground for insurgents and coalition aids.

"The reality is, the Americans will now must strive and finish the job that Britain commenced," he included.

Ian Sadler, whose son Jack was killed when a landmine exploded beneath his army Land Rover near Sangin in 2007, stated he was glad troops had been getting out with the region.

"We are pulling out of a hotspot. It really is a especially risky region of Afghanistan, so it is really a good point," he told the BBC.

The past serviceman stated it was component of a soldier's job to maintain transferring on.

"They will probably be sad for those who have been killed, for individuals who have missing their arms and legs," he included. "But Sangin is like staying at a unhealthy resort - you are glad when you will not go again."

Col Stuart Tootal, past commander of 3 Para, the primary battle party sent into Sangin, says the region will constantly be significant for British aids.

"We can't dismiss the emotion the British are heading to attach to Sangin. I necessarily mean my own personal battle party went in there four years ago and fifty percent our casualties had been missing in Sangin," he stated.

The handover "makes pragmatic beneficial sense simply because it makes it possible for the British to concentrate on their major effort inside centre with the province," he included.
'Poignant moment'

MoD spokesman Maj Gen Gordon Messenger, a past commander with the United kingdom Helmand undertaking pressure, stated it was "absolutely not" a pull-out !

Though development experienced been slower in Sangin than in other components of Helmand, he admitted, British efforts experienced not been worthless.

"It's a hugely critical point that the Afghan flag flies inside district centre of Sangin, and that the people today of Sangin plus the surrounding region recognise that and see the rewards of it," he stated.

"By contesting Sangin, by showing improvement in Sangin, we're capable to deflect violence that might otherwise by exported into the populated areas in central Helmand."

The commanding officer of 40 Commando party, Lt Col Paul James, stated the handover was a "poignant moment" tinged with sadness, however the overwhelming emotion was certainly one of pride.

"I think we've attained significant success right here, producing Sangin a far more stable and peaceful spot.

"And almost certainly just as importantly, the Afghan nationwide safety aids that we've partnered right here are now starting to find a way to stand on their very own two feet and take on the duty for delivering Sangin for themselves.

"It's not heading to get British aids who supply success in Sangin and it is really not heading to get American aids.

"It's not heading to get any individual else aside from the Afghans themselves."

Lt Col Clay Tipton, from the US Marine Corps, stated United kingdom and US troops experienced been working with each other in Sangin to the previous couple of months, and their job now was to "continue the success".

The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says Sangin is usually a town of about 20,000 people today plus the region is usually a essential supply route to the Taliban, with males, funds and medication passing by way of it.

He stated British patrol bases had been previously staying shut down plus the Royal Marines who served you can find annoyed at possessing to leave a spot they fought so hard for.

"As the British mission in Sangin ends, concerns continue to be regardless of whether there had been ever plenty of resources to total the job," he stated. "Even so, the American pressure will cover exactly the same amount of ground, with a equivalent amount of troops."

You can find about 9,500 United kingdom troops in Afghanistan, using the vast majority deployed inside south with the region.

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