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Last British troops leave Helmand | Last British troops leave Helmand |
(35 minutes later) | |
The last UK troops have left Helmand province in Afghanistan, as a poll suggests 68% of the UK public thought the campaign had not been "worthwhile". | |
The BBC poll of 1,000 adults also found 42% thought the UK was "less safe" as a result of the 13-year campaign. | |
The end of UK combat operations was announced on Sunday, as the main British base Camp Bastion was handed to Afghan control. | The end of UK combat operations was announced on Sunday, as the main British base Camp Bastion was handed to Afghan control. |
The final troops left by air, with the last man holding the union jack. | |
US troops from Camp Leatherneck, which adjoined Camp Bastion, have also left, leaving Afghan forces in control of the entire site. | US troops from Camp Leatherneck, which adjoined Camp Bastion, have also left, leaving Afghan forces in control of the entire site. |
The BBC's telephone poll, carried out from 24-26 October, found 14% thought the UK was safer as a result of the international intervention in Afghanistan, which began in 2001. | |
Responses showed 39% thought there was "no real difference", while 5% did not know or refused to answer. | |
In addition, 24% said the deployment of UK troops had left Afghanistan "better off", 25% said the country was "worse off" and 44% said there was no real difference. | |
In answer to another question, 31% said they were somewhat or very confident Afghanistan could "protect its citizens without the help of UK forces", while 64% said they were not so confident or not confident at all. | |
The government has said UK troops will not return to fight in Afghanistan "under any circumstances". | The government has said UK troops will not return to fight in Afghanistan "under any circumstances". |
BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said troops arrived in Kandahar from Camp Bastion overnight in "large numbers" on Hercules aircraft, before a "wave of helicopters" carried the remaining few. | BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said troops arrived in Kandahar from Camp Bastion overnight in "large numbers" on Hercules aircraft, before a "wave of helicopters" carried the remaining few. |
He said the last man off the final Chinook helicopter carried the British flag that was lowered in a ceremony at Camp Bastion on Sunday. | He said the last man off the final Chinook helicopter carried the British flag that was lowered in a ceremony at Camp Bastion on Sunday. |
The troops will return home from Kandahar "in the next few days", he added. | The troops will return home from Kandahar "in the next few days", he added. |
The UK's most senior officer in Helmand, Brig Rob Thomson, said Sunday's ceremony marked the "final step in a deliberate, responsible and measured handover" to the Afghans. | The UK's most senior officer in Helmand, Brig Rob Thomson, said Sunday's ceremony marked the "final step in a deliberate, responsible and measured handover" to the Afghans. |
On Sunday, David Cameron tweeted: "We will always remember the courage of those who served on our behalf." | On Sunday, David Cameron tweeted: "We will always remember the courage of those who served on our behalf." |
But former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott has questioned whether the results "justified" the 453 UK deaths. | |
Writing in the Daily Mirror, Lord Prescott, who was in the cabinet that sent British troops to Afghanistan in 2001, said: "I respect the thousands of gallant men and women who went to Afghanistan and Iraq to save lives and restore peace. | Writing in the Daily Mirror, Lord Prescott, who was in the cabinet that sent British troops to Afghanistan in 2001, said: "I respect the thousands of gallant men and women who went to Afghanistan and Iraq to save lives and restore peace. |
"But they teach us that being the world's policeman carries a heavy price and does not justify the heavy loss of lives." | "But they teach us that being the world's policeman carries a heavy price and does not justify the heavy loss of lives." |