LONDON - Britain is to send up to 1700 troops to Afghanistan to help the United States take on al Qaeda and Taleban fighters, in the biggest UK deployment of operational forces since the 1991 Gulf War.
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told Parliament the troops would be risking their lives in "unforgiving and hostile terrain, against a dangerous enemy".
"The United States has formally requested that the UK provide forces to join in future military operations," Hoon said.
"I have therefore authorised the deployment ... of a full UK infantry battlegroup built around 45 Commando Royal Marines."
He said the Marines would join a US-led brigade. The first elements would be on the ground in days and ready to undertake operations by the middle of next month.
The US, leading coalition troops in Afghanistan, said yesterday "Operation Anaconda", the biggest ground battle of the Afghan war, was ending but the fighting was not yet over.
A senior British defence official said British Marines were likely to be in Afghanistan for three months and engaging the enemy for a month.
Defence analysts said the US request reflected a realisation that stamping out small groups of fighters in tough, mountainous terrain would take time.
- REUTERS
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Britain readies 1700 troops to fight in Afghanistan
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