UK starts handover of Helmand outposts to US forces
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Mar 12, IRNA -- British troops are to hand over control of the largest town in north Helmand to US forces as part of a major "rebalancing" of UK forces in Helmand, the Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has confirmed.
“The responsibility for the security of Musa Qaleh district, in the Upper Helmand Valley, will be transferred from UK to US forces over the coming weeks,” Ainsworth said.
“Further changes are likely in due course, as the ISAF force laydown continues to evolve to increase the presence of ISAF and Afghan forces across the main population centres in the province,” he said in a parliamentary statement published Friday.
Reports have suggested that British troops may be on the verge of leaving Afghan government outposts where they have suffered heavy casualties following the uplift of Nato troops to over 20,000 in Helmand due primarily to thousands of American reinforcements.
Since moving into Musa Qaleh district in 2006, 23 British soldiers have lost there lives, while no less that 50 have been killed in and around Sangin in the past year, including six so far this month.
Ainsworth said that the transfer will allow UK troops to be redeployed from Musa Qaleh to central Helmand, the most heavily populated area of the province, where the majority of British troops are already based.
“The thickening of our force density in central Helmand will allow us to continue the progress over the last 12 months in increasing our emphasis on partnering and training the Afghan national security forces,” he said.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 1008697
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