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| UK troops 'must win Afghan trust' | UK troops 'must win Afghan trust' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The head of the UK's armed forces, Sir Jock Stirrup, has said the killing of 12 civilians during Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan was a "serious setback". | The head of the UK's armed forces, Sir Jock Stirrup, has said the killing of 12 civilians during Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan was a "serious setback". |
| No British troops were involved when two rockets fired by coalition forces missed their target in Marjah. | |
| Sir Jock said Britain must focus on regaining the Afghan population's trust but that accidents were "inevitable". | |
| Meanwhile, Gordon Brown has said UK commanders indicated they had "all the equipment they needed" before the push. | |
| Up to 15,000 Nato troops are searching for the Taliban in Marjah and Nad Ali as part of the offensive. | |
| On the third day of the operation, the chief of the defence staff told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the population would be safer under the Afghan government than the Taliban. | On the third day of the operation, the chief of the defence staff told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the population would be safer under the Afghan government than the Taliban. |
| He said: "It is always damaging, but of course in any conflict situation accidents happen and we must remember that most of the civilian casualties... are caused by the Taliban. | He said: "It is always damaging, but of course in any conflict situation accidents happen and we must remember that most of the civilian casualties... are caused by the Taliban. |
| "In 2009, nearly two thirds of the people who died as a result of improvised explosive devices were actually civilians and aid workers so it is not the case that under the Taliban the civilians are safe," he said. | "In 2009, nearly two thirds of the people who died as a result of improvised explosive devices were actually civilians and aid workers so it is not the case that under the Taliban the civilians are safe," he said. |
| He said it could take up to 12 months before the operation could be deemed a success and it was not about "battling the Taliban" but "about protecting the local population and you don't protect them when you kill them". | He said it could take up to 12 months before the operation could be deemed a success and it was not about "battling the Taliban" but "about protecting the local population and you don't protect them when you kill them". |
| He added: "This a very challenging operation. Time is important and it is going to take time for us to persuade the locals that they should be accepting the Afghan government." | He added: "This a very challenging operation. Time is important and it is going to take time for us to persuade the locals that they should be accepting the Afghan government." |
| His comments were echoed by Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell who said he regretted the loss of civilian life. | His comments were echoed by Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell who said he regretted the loss of civilian life. |
| He said: "Tragically in warfare you cannot guarantee against the loss of life but we are doing everything we can to avoid it." | He said: "Tragically in warfare you cannot guarantee against the loss of life but we are doing everything we can to avoid it." |
| Speaking on a BBC Radio Suffolk phone-in during a visit to East Anglia, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told listeners: "We are better equipped than ever we have been as armed forces. | |
| Home-made bombs | |
| "Before we had this latest exercise... the chief of the defence staff phoned the commanders on the ground asking them if they were absolutely sure they had what they needed to do the work." | |
| The BBC's Ian Pannell, who is embedded with British troops, said the UK forces were still looking for roadside bombs and had held several meetings with local people in Nad Ali. | The BBC's Ian Pannell, who is embedded with British troops, said the UK forces were still looking for roadside bombs and had held several meetings with local people in Nad Ali. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said many insurgents in these areas are thought to have laid down their weapons or retreated north towards Sangin but homemade bombs have been planted in far greater numbers than Nato expected. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said many insurgents in these areas are thought to have laid down their weapons or retreated north towards Sangin but homemade bombs have been planted in far greater numbers than Nato expected. |
| The Ministry of Defence said the first stage of the offensive in southern Afghanistan, which involved 1,000 UK troops, had gone to plan. | The Ministry of Defence said the first stage of the offensive in southern Afghanistan, which involved 1,000 UK troops, had gone to plan. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The "surge" approach drove most of the insurgents out of Iraq and there is no reason why it shouldn't work in AfghanistanAlan Trent, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The "surge" approach drove most of the insurgents out of Iraq and there is no reason why it shouldn't work in AfghanistanAlan Trent, London Send us your comments |
| On Sunday, Maj Gen Gordon Messenger said British troops, working with Afghan forces, had come under small-arms fire but "nothing had stopped the mission progressing". | |
| L/Sgt David Greenhalgh, of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, died in an explosion while on vehicle patrol as part of the operation, near Lashkar Gah on Saturday. | L/Sgt David Greenhalgh, of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, died in an explosion while on vehicle patrol as part of the operation, near Lashkar Gah on Saturday. |
| Two other British soldiers, who have not yet been named, died in incidents unconnected to Operation Moshtarak on Sunday. | Two other British soldiers, who have not yet been named, died in incidents unconnected to Operation Moshtarak on Sunday. |
| One was killed in an explosion to the north-east of Sangin, while the other was shot during a firefight while on patrol near Patrol Base Minden in the Musa Qualeh district of Helmand. | One was killed in an explosion to the north-east of Sangin, while the other was shot during a firefight while on patrol near Patrol Base Minden in the Musa Qualeh district of Helmand. |
| At an MoD briefing in London, Maj Gen Messenger - chief of the defence staff's strategic communications - said no artillery had been fired and no bombs dropped in the area where British efforts were focused. | At an MoD briefing in London, Maj Gen Messenger - chief of the defence staff's strategic communications - said no artillery had been fired and no bombs dropped in the area where British efforts were focused. |
| An Apache helicopter had fired a Hellfire missile at insurgents after members of a patrol were attacked from a distance, he said. | An Apache helicopter had fired a Hellfire missile at insurgents after members of a patrol were attacked from a distance, he said. |
| The British troops have had several meetings with village elders | The British troops have had several meetings with village elders |
| He said soldiers from the Royal Welsh Regiment, working with Afghan forces, had uncovered 13 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and military tunnels. | He said soldiers from the Royal Welsh Regiment, working with Afghan forces, had uncovered 13 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and military tunnels. |
| But Maj Gen Messenger said: "The challenge is to provide security that allows the Afghans to provide for their people. The success of this operation will be judged on that." | But Maj Gen Messenger said: "The challenge is to provide security that allows the Afghans to provide for their people. The success of this operation will be judged on that." |
| The Taliban, although "divided and fractured", remained an "adaptable foe", he added. | The Taliban, although "divided and fractured", remained an "adaptable foe", he added. |
| He said work had already begun to build bridges over canals and create temporary bases in the area. | He said work had already begun to build bridges over canals and create temporary bases in the area. |
| Reconstruction | Reconstruction |
| Operation Moshtarak - which means "together" in the local Dari language - is the biggest Afghan mission since the 2001 invasion. | Operation Moshtarak - which means "together" in the local Dari language - is the biggest Afghan mission since the 2001 invasion. |
| It is being led by 4,000 US Marines, supported by the Afghan National Army and British, Canadian, Danish and Estonian troops. | It is being led by 4,000 US Marines, supported by the Afghan National Army and British, Canadian, Danish and Estonian troops. |
| More than 1,200 British troops are currently involved on the ground, with a further 3,000 available if needed. | More than 1,200 British troops are currently involved on the ground, with a further 3,000 available if needed. |
| Soldiers from the Grenadier Guards Battle Group, Coldstream Guards and the Royal Welsh are taking part, along with the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Operational Mentor and Liaison Team. | Soldiers from the Grenadier Guards Battle Group, Coldstream Guards and the Royal Welsh are taking part, along with the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Operational Mentor and Liaison Team. |
| OPERATION MOSHTARAK: DAY TWO - 14 FEBRUARY 2010 UK forces in the northern zone of operations are clearing and holding villages. They have found caches of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), along with tunnels and ammunition dumps.UK/Danish troops have clashed with Taliban.US and UK forces operating either side of Canal 56 crossings consolidate their hold on the area.In the Marjah district, US forces continue air and ground assaults - hampered by numerous IEDs. On the outskirts of Marjah two rockets miss their targets, striking a house and killing 12 civilians. Source: UK Ministry of Defence | OPERATION MOSHTARAK: DAY TWO - 14 FEBRUARY 2010 UK forces in the northern zone of operations are clearing and holding villages. They have found caches of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), along with tunnels and ammunition dumps.UK/Danish troops have clashed with Taliban.US and UK forces operating either side of Canal 56 crossings consolidate their hold on the area.In the Marjah district, US forces continue air and ground assaults - hampered by numerous IEDs. On the outskirts of Marjah two rockets miss their targets, striking a house and killing 12 civilians. Source: UK Ministry of Defence |