British troops go away Helmand's Sangin

British causes in Afghanistan have handed above duty for security in Sangin to US causes, marking the end of their four-year mission in the area.

The 1,000 Royal Marines and other personnel are becoming redeployed to central Helmand province.

The united kingdom has suffered its heaviest losses in Sangin. With the 337 British deaths considering that 2001, a 3rd have occurred there.

Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox mentioned British troops need to be "proud of their achievements".

He mentioned Sangin was "one with the most difficult areas of Afghanistan".

"The stage of sacrifice has been high and we need to in no way overlook the numerous brave troops who've misplaced their lives in the pursuit of good results in an global mission rooted firmly in our own personal nationwide security in the British," he mentioned.

British troops will redeploy to central Helmand, in which they are going to proceed to lead the struggle towards the insurgency and support in creating a steady and secure Afghanistan, he added in.

British causes happen to be in the area considering that 2006, and 106 British personnel happen to be wiped out, 36 this year alone. The MoD announced in July that British troops had been to be changed by US causes.

Manage was formally handed above from British causes to the US Marine Corps at 0630 BST.

The BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul mentioned there could well be a bodily handover, while using union jack lowered along with the US flag raised, but small would modify on a useful stage.

He mentioned some members with the 40 Commando Battle Team experienced already left, along with the handover could well be staggered above the coming weeks.

Describing it as a "totemic" minute for that British, he mentioned Sangin was probably the most unsafe district in Helmand - if not the entire of Afghanistan.

Over a latest pay a visit to to the area, he witnessed a extended struggle in which numerous US soldiers, Afghan soldiers and civilians sustained injuries.

"Although development has been made, the area stays really tough. It is a critical battleground for insurgents and coalition causes.

"The truth is, the Americans will now ought to try and end the career that Britain commenced," he added in.

Ian Sadler, whose son Jack was wiped out when a landmine exploded beneath his army Land Rover close Sangin in 2007, mentioned he was glad troops had been getting out with the area.

"We are pulling out of the hotspot. It's a particularly unsafe area of Afghanistan, so it's a fantastic thing," he instructed the BBC.

The past serviceman mentioned it was part of the soldier's career to keep transferring on.

"They will probably be unhappy for the ones who happen to be wiped out, for people who have misplaced their legs and arms," he added in. "But Sangin is like staying at a poor hotel - you're glad after you will not go back again."

Col Stuart Tootal, past commander of three Para, the first struggle team sent into Sangin, says the area will at all times be important for British causes.

"We can't dismiss the emotion the British are going to attach to Sangin. I imply my own personal struggle team went in there 4 many years ago and fifty percent our casualties had been misplaced in Sangin," he mentioned.

The handover "makes pragmatic good sense due to the fact it will allow the British to concentrate on their primary effort in the centre with the province," he added in.
'Poignant moment'

MoD spokesman Maj Gen Gordon Messenger, a past commander with the British Helmand job power, mentioned it was "absolutely not" a pull-out .


While development experienced been slower in Sangin than in other components of Helmand, he admitted, British efforts experienced not been worthless.

"It's a hugely vital point that the Afghan flag flies in the district centre of Sangin, and that the men and women of Sangin along with the surrounding area recognise that and see the benefits of it," he mentioned.

"By contesting Sangin, by exhibiting improvement in Sangin, we're equipped to deflect violence that would otherwise by exported in to the populated areas in central Helmand."

The commanding officer of 40 Commando team, Lt Col Paul James, mentioned the handover was a "poignant moment" tinged with sadness, however the overwhelming emotion was one of satisfaction.

"I feel we've achieved important good results here, creating Sangin a a lot more steady and peaceful area.

"And probably just as importantly, the Afghan nationwide security causes that we've partnered here are now beginning to find a way to stand on their very own two ft and take on the duty for delivering Sangin for by themselves.

"It's not going to be British causes who deliver good results in Sangin and it's not going to be American causes.

"It's not going to be anybody else aside from the Afghans by themselves."

Lt Col Clay Tipton, from the US Marine Corps, mentioned British and US troops experienced been functioning with each other in Sangin for that previous couple of months, and their career now was to "continue the success".

The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says Sangin is really a town of about 20,000 men and women along with the area is really a crucial supply route for that Taliban, with males, funds and medication passing through it.

He mentioned British patrol bases had been already becoming shut down along with the Royal Marines who served you will find annoyed at getting to depart a place they fought so hard for.

"As the British mission in Sangin ends, concerns stay whether there had been ever ample resources to total the career," he mentioned. "Even so, the American power will cover exactly the same level of ground, with a equivalent quantity of troops."

You will discover about 9,500 British troops in Afghanistan, while using majority deployed in the south with the region.

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