British forces have handed over the security charge of Sangin district of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan to U.S. forces, NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement on Monday.

"UK forces today transferred responsibility for security in Sangin District to U.S. forces," the statement added.

This tactical realignment and rebalancing of International Security Assistance Forces in Helmand province has been possible due to the increase in U.S. Marines and will allow UK. forces to be reinvested throughout central Helmand, the statement further said.

In recent months, the Afghan National Security Forces in Sangin have been working alongside UK and U.S. forces in the district, increasing security and allowing the influence of the Afghan government to grow.

British forces deployed in Sangin district in 2006, and since then have partnered with Afghan security forces to provide security there, the statement added.

More than 10,000 British forces, with majority of them in Helmand, have been serving in Afghanistan within the framework of NATO-led ISAF troops to stabilize security there.

More than 330 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001 with 92 of them only since January this year.

Related

• Dutch troops' departure from Afghanistan leaves uncertainty behind
• Dutch troops withdraw from Afghanistan
• PM: UK troops may start leaving Afghanistan in 2011
• British troops to withdraw from Afghanistan by 2014
• British PM wants troops out of Afghanistan by 2015
• 7 foreign troops killed in Afghanistan
• UK: No withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan
• UK ups spending to protect troops in Afghanistan war

Go to Forum >>0 Comments