X-PASTER
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 12, 2007
- 11,610
- 1,809
Deadly 'Panther's Claw' Ends In Afghanistan
A major operation dubbed Panther's Claw, in which 10 British troops were killed in Afghanistan, has ended.
Commanders say the five-week mission cleared the Taliban from an area the size of the Isle of Wight and comes ahead of elections next month.
British troops will remain to secure the area won for three to six months, the MoD said.
Gordon Brown said the mission in the troubled southern Helmand province "has shown that it can bring success".
"What we have actually done is make land secure for about 100,000 people," he said.
"What we've done is push back the Taliban - and what we've done also is to start to break that chain of terror that links the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan to the streets of Britain."
He added it was also a chance to commemorate the soldiers who gave their lives during the mission.
A total of 20 British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan this month alone.
Brigadier Tim Radford, commander of Task Force Helmand, said: "All those tragedies that we have incurred over the last month and beyond have not been in vain."
Confirmation of the operation's end comes on the day David Miliband called for talks with more moderate Taliban elements.
Commanders say the five-week mission cleared the Taliban from an area the size of the Isle of Wight and comes ahead of elections next month.
British troops will remain to secure the area won for three to six months, the MoD said.
Gordon Brown said the mission in the troubled southern Helmand province "has shown that it can bring success".
"What we have actually done is make land secure for about 100,000 people," he said.
"What we've done is push back the Taliban - and what we've done also is to start to break that chain of terror that links the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan to the streets of Britain."
He added it was also a chance to commemorate the soldiers who gave their lives during the mission.
A total of 20 British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan this month alone.
Brigadier Tim Radford, commander of Task Force Helmand, said: "All those tragedies that we have incurred over the last month and beyond have not been in vain."
Confirmation of the operation's end comes on the day David Miliband called for talks with more moderate Taliban elements... Click here For More story
