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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 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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". |
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." |
Analysis | |
By Jonathan Beale, BBC defence correspondent | |
The last UK forces in Camp Bastion began their pull-out in the early hours of Monday morning. | |
Once their main base in Helmand housing thousands of troops, it was, in the final hours, occupied by just a few hundred UK soldiers and US marines. | |
It was a carefully rehearsed manoeuvre that had taken months to plan. | |
As British forces left their watchtowers they were replaced by Afghan soldiers who will now be left to guard Bastion and fight the Taliban on their own. | |
At just before midday the final wave of UK and US helicopters took off. | |
In less than an hour they had landed back in Kandahar, their final staging post before the long journey home. | |
The last UK commander in Helmand, Brig Rob Thomson, expressed his pride and relief when they'd all arrived safely. | |
It marks not just the end of their mission but the end of Britain's 13-year war in Afghanistan and British forces have been told they will not be returning. | |
But former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott has questioned whether the results "justified" the 453 UK deaths. | 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." |
UK forces were part of a US-led coalition which toppled the ruling Taliban in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the US. | |
After 9/11, US President George Bush demanded that the Taliban hand over any leaders of al-Qaeda - the militant group which later claimed responsibility for the attacks - in Afghanistan, but the Taliban did not immediately comply. | |
Taliban leaders called for talks, but US President George Bush said there would be "no negotiations" and military action started on 7 October. | |
Camp Bastion, in Helmand province, was the UK's main Afghan base from 2006. | |
At the time it opened, the UK said its forces would be there to protect reconstruction of the country, but they got caught up in the struggle against the Taliban. | |
The Taliban insurgency continues, and Afghan police said four of its officers had been killed and at least 10 were taken hostages when militants attacked a compound in the northern Badakhshan Province on Sunday. |