Menu
16/06/2008
More British Troops To Be Deployed To Afghanistan
An additional 300 British troops are soon to be bound for Afghanistan.
The news will be confirmed later today after Prime Minister Gordon Brown revealed the deployment, with Defence Secretary Des Browne due to give details in the Commons at 3.30pm.
Mr Brown said: "Today Britain will announce additional troops for Afghanistan, bringing our numbers in Afghanistan to the highest level to date."
The increase will bring the overall UK numbers in Afghanistan to more than 8,000 troops, mostly based in Helmand.
It is reported that around 230 engineers, logistical staff and military training experts will be among those who will be assigned to the tour of duty over the next few weeks.
Mr Brown said at a press conference with President George Bush that the military presence would be increased to "keep up pressure on the Taliban".
The Prime Minister also commended Mr Bush and said he was "a true friend of Britain".
Mr Brown also added that their message to Iran was that they did not have to choose a "path of confrontation" with the west and that Britain wanted to do "everything possible" to maintain talks with Tehran.
Tension has been rising in the south of the country and President Hamid Karazi has warned that troops will be sent into Pakistan if Islamabad does not prevent cross-border attacks by the Taliban.
The developments came as the number of British personnel killed in Afghanistan reached 102 last week.
On Friday, the Ministry of Defence confirmed the deaths of Lance Corporal James Bateman and Private Jeff Doherty of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) on Thursday 12 June in the Helmand Province.
Privates Nathan Cuthbertson and David Murray, 19, and Daniel Gamble, 22, were killed by a suicide bomber last Sunday.
Commanding Officer of 2 PARA, Lieutenant Colonel Joe O'Sullivan paid tribute to Mr Bateman and Mr Doherty: "Their commitment to their friends and the steadfast courage they showed as they faced their battle this morning is in the finest tradition of the Regiment and admired by us all.
"We will think about them, and what they were prepared to give here, and we will think about their families whose loss is so great.
"They will join Pte Charles Murray, Pte Daniel Gamble and Pte Nathan Cuthbertson and return home to where their families and the Regiment are waiting to meet them, and we will continue with our work in the Helmand River Valley."
(DS)
The news will be confirmed later today after Prime Minister Gordon Brown revealed the deployment, with Defence Secretary Des Browne due to give details in the Commons at 3.30pm.
Mr Brown said: "Today Britain will announce additional troops for Afghanistan, bringing our numbers in Afghanistan to the highest level to date."
The increase will bring the overall UK numbers in Afghanistan to more than 8,000 troops, mostly based in Helmand.
It is reported that around 230 engineers, logistical staff and military training experts will be among those who will be assigned to the tour of duty over the next few weeks.
Mr Brown said at a press conference with President George Bush that the military presence would be increased to "keep up pressure on the Taliban".
The Prime Minister also commended Mr Bush and said he was "a true friend of Britain".
Mr Brown also added that their message to Iran was that they did not have to choose a "path of confrontation" with the west and that Britain wanted to do "everything possible" to maintain talks with Tehran.
Tension has been rising in the south of the country and President Hamid Karazi has warned that troops will be sent into Pakistan if Islamabad does not prevent cross-border attacks by the Taliban.
The developments came as the number of British personnel killed in Afghanistan reached 102 last week.
On Friday, the Ministry of Defence confirmed the deaths of Lance Corporal James Bateman and Private Jeff Doherty of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) on Thursday 12 June in the Helmand Province.
Privates Nathan Cuthbertson and David Murray, 19, and Daniel Gamble, 22, were killed by a suicide bomber last Sunday.
Commanding Officer of 2 PARA, Lieutenant Colonel Joe O'Sullivan paid tribute to Mr Bateman and Mr Doherty: "Their commitment to their friends and the steadfast courage they showed as they faced their battle this morning is in the finest tradition of the Regiment and admired by us all.
"We will think about them, and what they were prepared to give here, and we will think about their families whose loss is so great.
"They will join Pte Charles Murray, Pte Daniel Gamble and Pte Nathan Cuthbertson and return home to where their families and the Regiment are waiting to meet them, and we will continue with our work in the Helmand River Valley."
(DS)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
14 October 2009
Brown Announces More Troops for Afghanistan
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that an additional 500 troops are to be sent to Afghanistan. Making the announcement in Parliament today, Mr Brown said that the troops were being sent on military advice and he said that this was conditional on the troops having the necessary equipment and training to perform the tasks asked of them.
Brown Announces More Troops for Afghanistan
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that an additional 500 troops are to be sent to Afghanistan. Making the announcement in Parliament today, Mr Brown said that the troops were being sent on military advice and he said that this was conditional on the troops having the necessary equipment and training to perform the tasks asked of them.
28 May 2009
Soldier Dies In Southern Afghanistan
A British soldier has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. The serviceman from the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment was on an operation near Garmsir in Helmand Province, and next of kin have been informed.
Soldier Dies In Southern Afghanistan
A British soldier has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. The serviceman from the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment was on an operation near Garmsir in Helmand Province, and next of kin have been informed.
18 June 2008
Servicewoman Among British Dead In Afghanistan
The death toll continues to rise in Afghanistan as four British troops, including a woman, have been killed in an explosion.
Servicewoman Among British Dead In Afghanistan
The death toll continues to rise in Afghanistan as four British troops, including a woman, have been killed in an explosion.
10 December 2007
PM's Christmas Tour Continues With Afghanistan
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has reaffirmed Britain's commitment to Afghanistan on security and economic development issues during a surprise visit to British troops in the country.
PM's Christmas Tour Continues With Afghanistan
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has reaffirmed Britain's commitment to Afghanistan on security and economic development issues during a surprise visit to British troops in the country.
30 March 2007
Chancellor and Defence Secretary visit troops in Afghanistan
Chancellor Gordon Brown and Defence Secretary Des Browne are on a surprise visit to Afghanistan to visit British troops, senior commanders and civilian staff. The Chancellor will announce that the UK will provide an additional £15 million for economic development, which will be used to support the Afghan government's National Solidarity Programme.
Chancellor and Defence Secretary visit troops in Afghanistan
Chancellor Gordon Brown and Defence Secretary Des Browne are on a surprise visit to Afghanistan to visit British troops, senior commanders and civilian staff. The Chancellor will announce that the UK will provide an additional £15 million for economic development, which will be used to support the Afghan government's National Solidarity Programme.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Clear start with a fairly widespread frost developing. Increasing cloud brings occasionally heavy rain overnight, preceded, especially over western hills, briefly by snow. Occasional southeasterly gales, severe near coasts, developing. Minimum temperature -2 °C.
