Closure of British bases ‘a major milestone’

Just one base, Sterga 2, remains in Helmand outside Camp Bastion, effectively becoming Britain’s front line in the area, as the UK works towards withdrawing all combat troops by the end of this year.

In an operation lasting more than a month, three important bases have been closed or handed over to Afghan control.

Main Operating Base (MOB) Lashkar Gah – the former headquarters of UK military forces in Afghanistan – and Patrol Base (PB) Lashkar Gah Durai have been handed over to Afghan control.

And yesterday final equipment was brought back to Camp Bastion – which itself is slowly being closed down – from a third base, MOB Price. They are the latest milestone in a drawdown that has seen UK bases reduce from 137 at the height of the campaign, while Afghan forces are now leading 97 per cent of all security operations across the country and carrying out over 90 per cent of their own training.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: “The handover and closure of our bases across Helmand underlines the progress UK Forces have made to increase security and stability across the province but also to build up the capability of the Afghan forces who will carry that work forward.

“Those service personnel who have served in Lashkar Gah and Lashkar Gah Durai and at MOB Price as part of successive UK brigades have made a huge contribution to the campaign which has safeguarded our national security at home.

“UK combat operations will cease by the end of this year but our support for the Afghan people will continue.”

Brigadier James Woodham, Commander of Task Force Helmand, said the handover of three of the largest British bases marked a “historic moment” in the UK’s military campaign in Afghanistan.