London, December 22 (RHC)-- Britain has sent military personnel to Afghanistan’s southern province of Helmand. Local sources in Afghanistan said the British forces were sent following reports that some parts of the province were on the verge of falling to Taliban forces.
The UK officially ended its combat operations in Afghanistan in 2015. It has about 450 troops in the war-torn country to support the Afghan army and security forces. Now it says a small number of personnel had been deployed to Helmand in an advisory role.
British media reported that a unit of about 30 soldiers from Britain's elite Special Air Service (SAS) and up to 60 U.S. Special Forces had been sent to support the Afghan forces to defend the town. The Ministry of Defense said the team would not be engaged in fighting.
"These personnel are part of a larger NATO team, which is providing advice to the Afghan National Army, they are not deployed in a combat role and will not deploy outside the camp," a MoD spokeswoman said.
Helmand, a traditional Taliban heartland, has been the scene of fierce fighting for months as the militant groups ramp up attacks. Many of the more than 450 British servicemen and women killed in Afghanistan lost their lives fighting in Helmand.
