BRITISH Forces will soon launch a tough new campaign against the Taliban, a top British general vowed yesterday.
Former SAS officer Sir Graeme Lamb welcomed the surge in troops ordered this week by President Obama and Gordon Brown, saying it meant the drive against the insurgents would now get tougher.
He added: “We are continuing to strike the Taliban, and have to, till their eyeballs bleed.”
Lieutenant General Lamb, special adviser to General Stanley McChrystal, the top US and Nato commander in Afghanistan, revealed that British Special Forces have already increased their operations fivefold in the last few months.
On Monday Mr Brown confirmed that another 500 UK troops are being sent to Helmand province, taking our force to 10,000.
He broke with precedent to reveal that the 10,000 includes 500 Special Forces.
Then on Tuesday night Mr Obama announced he is sending another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan over the next six months, taking the US numbers to about 100,000. Yesterday in response the Taliban warned that they would step up their attacks.
The first US Marines are expected to join a force of about 9,000 US troops already in southern Helmand before Christmas.
And a new offensive against the Taliban in its heartland is expected within weeks.
The head of Britain’s Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, said he was “delighted” with Mr Obama’s announcement.
Source: express.co.uk/
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