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11/07/2006
UK to send extra troops to Afghanistan
Nearly 900 extra troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Des Browne has confirmed.
The reinforcements will be sent to the Helmand province in the south of the country, where six British soldiers have been killed in the past month.
The reinforcements will include 320 engineers from 28 Regiment, Royal Engineers, and a company from 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines from September.
An infantry company drawn from 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and two platoons, around 60 troops, from 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment will also be deployed.
Mr Browne said that the extra troops would provide assistance in what he termed security and reconstruction efforts.
The Defence Secretary also confirmed that more support helicopters would be made available in the region and flying hours for attack aircraft would also be increased.
The reinforcements will boost the British contingent in Afghanistan to around 4,500 troops.
In a further development today, Tuesday, US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld has made an unannounced visit to the Afghanistan capital Kabul.
The Defence Secretary will have talks with the Afghan President Hamid Karzi, one of the topics is expected to be the escalating security situation in the southern region of the country.
It is reported that hundreds have lost their lives and peacekeeping troops have met with heavier that expected insurgent activity.
(KMcA/SP)
The reinforcements will be sent to the Helmand province in the south of the country, where six British soldiers have been killed in the past month.
The reinforcements will include 320 engineers from 28 Regiment, Royal Engineers, and a company from 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines from September.
An infantry company drawn from 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and two platoons, around 60 troops, from 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment will also be deployed.
Mr Browne said that the extra troops would provide assistance in what he termed security and reconstruction efforts.
The Defence Secretary also confirmed that more support helicopters would be made available in the region and flying hours for attack aircraft would also be increased.
The reinforcements will boost the British contingent in Afghanistan to around 4,500 troops.
In a further development today, Tuesday, US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld has made an unannounced visit to the Afghanistan capital Kabul.
The Defence Secretary will have talks with the Afghan President Hamid Karzi, one of the topics is expected to be the escalating security situation in the southern region of the country.
It is reported that hundreds have lost their lives and peacekeeping troops have met with heavier that expected insurgent activity.
(KMcA/SP)
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