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| Last British troops leave Helmand | Last British troops leave Helmand |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The last UK troops have left Helmand in Afghanistan, as a poll suggests 68% of respondents thought the operation was not "worthwhile" for Britain. | The last UK troops have left Helmand in Afghanistan, as a poll suggests 68% of respondents thought the operation was not "worthwhile" for Britain. |
| The BBC poll of 1,000 UK adults found 42% thought Britain was "less safe" as a result of the 13-year campaign. | The BBC poll of 1,000 UK adults found 42% thought Britain was "less safe" as a result of the 13-year campaign. |
| The end of British combat operations was announced on Sunday with Camp Bastion handed over to Afghan control. The final UK troops left on Monday. | |
| Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain should be "incredibly proud". | |
| The final troops left by air on Monday, with the last holding the union jack. | The final troops left by air on Monday, with the last 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. |
| Some 24% said they thought Britain's involvement was worthwhile for the UK. | Some 24% said they thought Britain's involvement was worthwhile for the UK. |
| 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. |
| 'Measured handover' | 'Measured handover' |
| 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 a ceremony on Sunday 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 a ceremony on Sunday marked the "final step in a deliberate, responsible and measured handover" to the Afghans. |
| BBC opinion poll questions | BBC opinion poll questions |
| Mr Cameron said: "When al-Qaeda attacked the twin towers in 2011, they planned that attack from Afghanistan, operating freely under the Taliban regime. | |
| "Our incredible servicemen and women have driven al-Qaeda out and they have built up and trained the Afghan forces, none of which even existed in 2011, so that the Afghans can take control of their own security." | |
| He added: "We should be incredibly proud of all they have done to keep our country safe." | |
| Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC that troops were coming home with their "heads held high", having helped make Afghanistan a "much better place". | Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC that troops were coming home with their "heads held high", having helped make Afghanistan a "much better place". |
| He said the country was no longer a "safe haven" for extremist group al-Qaeda and Afghans now had a "chance of a better future". | He said the country was no longer a "safe haven" for extremist group al-Qaeda and Afghans now had a "chance of a better future". |
| He said there was "no guarantee" Afghanistan would "be safe and stable forever" but the Afghan government now had 300,000 soldiers and police officers. | He said there was "no guarantee" Afghanistan would "be safe and stable forever" but the Afghan government now had 300,000 soldiers and police officers. |
| Asked if the Afghan army might collapse, as parts of the Iraqi army did in the face of Islamic State militants, Mr Fallon said Iraq's forces were "seen as sectarian" while the Afghan army had the "support of the whole population". | Asked if the Afghan army might collapse, as parts of the Iraqi army did in the face of Islamic State militants, Mr Fallon said Iraq's forces were "seen as sectarian" while the Afghan army had the "support of the whole population". |
| He said the UK was not "walking away entirely" and would continue to give help and support, including financial aid and military training. | He said the UK was not "walking away entirely" and would continue to give help and support, including financial aid and military training. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Jonathan Beale, BBC defence correspondent | By Jonathan Beale, BBC defence correspondent |
| The last UK forces in Camp Bastion began their pull-out in the early hours of Monday morning. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Maj Gen Richard Nugee, one of Britain's highest ranking commanders in Afghanistan, said Afghan forces had proved they could "hold their ground" and defeat the Taliban. | Maj Gen Richard Nugee, one of Britain's highest ranking commanders in Afghanistan, said Afghan forces had proved they could "hold their ground" and defeat the Taliban. |
| Asked about the UK's 13-year military operation, he added: "Was it worth it? It's always difficult to say for those who have lost people here, but actually this country is a far better place and I believe we're safer in Britain." | Asked about the UK's 13-year military operation, he added: "Was it worth it? It's always difficult to say for those who have lost people here, but actually this country is a far better place and I believe we're safer in Britain." |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "All those who served did so to help ensure Afghanistan could no longer be used as a safe haven for terrorists." | Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "All those who served did so to help ensure Afghanistan could no longer be used as a safe haven for terrorists." |
| But former Labour Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott has questioned whether the results "justified" the 453 UK deaths. | But former Labour 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." |
| Ian Sadler, of the Military Families Support Group, said UK troops "could've come out a lot sooner". | Ian Sadler, of the Military Families Support Group, said UK troops "could've come out a lot sooner". |
| Mr Sadler, whose son Jack was killed in Afghanistan in 2007, said Britain should not have tried to "construct a new nation" in Afghanistan, and UK forces should have left after driving al-Qaeda out of its training areas. | Mr Sadler, whose son Jack was killed in Afghanistan in 2007, said Britain should not have tried to "construct a new nation" in Afghanistan, and UK forces should have left after driving al-Qaeda out of its training areas. |
| UK forces were part of a US-led coalition which toppled the ruling Taliban in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the US. | 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 W Bush demanded 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. | After 9/11, US President George W Bush demanded 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 President Bush said there would be "no negotiations" and military action started on 7 October. | Taliban leaders called for talks, but President Bush said there would be "no negotiations" and military action started on 7 October. |
| At the scene | |
| Robert Hall in Royal Wootton Bassett | |
| It's a busy Monday on Wootton Bassett High Street, but pride in the past burns brightly here. | |
| More than three years after the last repatriation cortege passed through, residents still talk of the days when the town fell silent and the bell tolled for the fallen. | |
| Town councillor Chris Wannall told me there was never any formal organisation, just a spontaneous desire to show support, which drew thousands from every corner of the UK. | |
| Today, this is Royal Wootton Bassett, but this community never sought honour or media attention. Just the quiet satisfaction that it had done its duty. | |
| Camp Bastion, in Helmand province, was the UK's main Afghan base from 2006. | 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. | 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 hostage when militants attacked a compound in the northern Badakhshan Province on Sunday. | The Taliban insurgency continues, and Afghan police said four of its officers had been killed and at least 10 were taken hostage when militants attacked a compound in the northern Badakhshan Province on Sunday. |