Last British troops to return home from Afghanistan today as role in two-decades long conflict ends

Last British troops to return home from Afghanistan today as role in two-decades long conflict ends

World News

The last regular British troops are expected to leave Afghanistan today, ending a 20-year involvement in the country.

A total of 454 UK soldiers and civilians have died in Afghanistan since the launch of the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom in response to the September 11 terror attacks.

The last of the UK’s 750 soldiers, part of a Nato training mission, are due to leave today – as the Taliban advances in many parts of the country, sparking fears of a new civil war.

In April, US President Joe Biden said it was ‘time to end America’s longest war’, and on Friday the US handed over Bagram air base, a strategic stronghold, to the Afghan security forces.

British Royal Marine Commandos from 45 Commando RM, returning from Operation Ptarmigan, land at Bagram Airbase April 18, 2002.

About 650 US troops are staying to protect its embassy.

Some 2,300 US personnel have been killed and 50,000 Afghan civilians have died since 2001.

Tobias Ellwood, the Tory chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, warned: ‘There is a danger of Afghanistan collapsing.’