Operation Toral

Operation Toral is the codename for British presence within Afghanistan post-2014 as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission.

Operation Toral
Part of Resolute Support Mission in the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)

RAF Puma helicopter of 33 Squadron deploying flares whilst on Operation Toral in Afghanistan, 14 December 2015.
Date1 January 2015 – present
Location
Afghanistan, Asia
Result Training ongoing
Belligerents
 United Kingdom

Taliban
Al-Qaeda


 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Commanders and leaders
David Cameron
(2015-2016)
Theresa May
(2016-2019)
Boris Johnson
(2019-present)

Akhter Mansour 
Hibatullah Akhundzada
Ayman al-Zawahiri


Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi  
Casualties and losses
2 killed (non-combat)

UK forces have two major tasks: training and mentoring Afghan Forces, and providing force protection for NATO advisors via the Kabul Security Force/Kabul Protection Unit.[1]

It is expected that around 500 troops will be in-country for the training of Afghan National Army personnel.[2]

Background

Operation Herrick was the codename under which all British operations in the War in Afghanistan were conducted from 2002 to the end of combat operations in 2014. It consisted of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and support to the American-led Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

In December 2012 Prime Minister David Cameron announced that 3,800 troops—almost half of the force serving in Helmand Province—would be withdrawn during 2013 with numbers to fall to approximately 5,200.[3] The UK ceased all combat operations in Afghanistan and withdrew the last of its combat troops on 27 October 2014.[4][5] Between 2001 and 24 July 2015 a total of 454 British military personnel have died on operations in Afghanistan.[6][7][7]

History

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment in a Foxhound, providing over watch security for the Afghan National Army Officer Academy (ANAOA) 10-year graduation ceremony. 23 November 2017.

Air Force Times reported that On 11 October 2015, An RAF Puma MK2 helicopter, carrying 9 crew and passengers, crashed as it was landing at NATO's Resolute Support Mission HQ in Kabul, after colliding with a .58 inch tether line of a Persistent Threat Detection System intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance blimp on the southwest edge of the compound.[8] Forces.net reported that 5 were killed (Flight lieutenant Alan Scott of 33 Squadron, and Flight lieutenant Geraint Roberts of 230 Squadron RAF and 3 US Servicemen) and 5 more were injured.[9]

The BBC reported that on 11 October 2015, a convoy of British military vehicles in Kabul was hit by an Taliban IED, at least 2 civilians (a woman and a child) were injured, there were no British casualties. The Taliban claimed the attack was in retaliation for airstrikes in Kunduz that had killed civilians and doctors (marking the first time British troops had been targeted in Kabul since British combat forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2014), officials in Kabul said it was a suicide bombing.[10]

Forces.net reported that during the Taliban attack on the Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul on 20 January 2018, members of 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, assisted by members of the Australian Army and the Oklahoma National Guard, evacuated 43 international civilians from the hotel.[11]

In July 2018, the Independent reported that following a request for reinforcements by President Donald Trump, the British government would deploy an additional 440 British troops to Afghanistan in a non-combat role of training and assisting Afghan forces, bringing total up to 1,100; the deployment began in August.[12]

Assets

British Army

  • Jan 2015 – Feb 2015: 2nd Battalion, The Rifles
    • B Company, with a platoon from 7th Battalion, The Rifles
  • Feb 2015 – 19 Aug 2015: 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment (1 R ANGLIAN)[13]
    • A (Norfolk) Company
    • B (Suffolk) Company
  • Jul 2015 – Apr 2016:
  • During February 2016
    • 133 Field Company, 103 Battalion REME
  • Apr 2016 – Dec 2016[16]
    • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (2 RGR)
      • B Company from Apr–Aug 2016
  • Dec 2016 – Aug 2017[17]
    • 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment (1 R IRISH)
      A sniper team from 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment providing overwatch security for the Afghan National Army Officer Academy (ANAOA) 10 year graduation ceremony, which was held at their Kabul facility. 23 November 2017.
  • OP T 5 (Jul 2017 – Apr 2017)
    • 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (2 YORKS)[18]
  • OP T 6 (Apr 2018 – Oct 2018)
    • 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards (1 WG)[19]
      • Battalion Headquarters
      • No.1 (Prince of Wales's) Company
      • No. 2 Company
      • No. 3 Company 'The Little Iron Men'
      • The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards (attached)
      • Support Company elements, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards (attached)
  • OP T 7 (Oct 2018 – March 2019)
    • 1st Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR)
      • B (Saribair) Company
      • C (Mogoung) Company
      • SP (Medcina) Company
  • OP T 8 (March 2019 - November 2019)[20]

Royal Air Force

Total aircraft: 6

References

  1. "Taliban To Begin Spring Offensive In Afghanistan". Forces.net. 26 April 2018.
  2. "Britain's war in Afghanistan comes to an end after 13 years as flag is lowered over Camp Bastion". Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  3. "Last British troops leave Helmand". BBC News. 27 October 2014. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "British fatalities - Operations in Afghanistan - British fatalities in Afghanistan". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  6. "British soldier dies three years after Afghanistan shooting". BBC News Online. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  7. "Incredible valor: Air Force civilian helps save lives after deadly helo crash in Afghanistan". Air Force Times. 19 March 2017.
  8. "Afghanistan Helicopter Crash Inquest: Players On Pitch Stopped Puma From Landing". Forces.net. 11 September 2017.
  9. "Taliban attack UK military convoy in Afghan capital Kabul". BBC. 11 October 2015.
  10. "British Soldiers Conduct Evacuation After Afghan Hotel Attack". Forces.net. 24 January 2018.
  11. "UK to almost double number of troops in Afghanistan after Trump request for Nato reinforcements". Independent. 11 July 2018.
  12. "Royal Anglian Regiment to return to Afghanistan". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  13. "On Watch And On Guard: Kabul Protection Unit". Forces TV. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  14. "Afghanistan deployment for The SCOTS". British Army. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  15. "Gurkhas prepare for protection role in Kabul". British Army. 15 February 2016. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  16. "Royal Irish preparing for Afghanistan support role". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  17. "Archived copy". British Army. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Welsh Guards assume security responsibility in Afghanistan". British Army. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  19. Kim Horton (20 November 2019). "Gloucester to give heroes' welcome to The Rifles soldiers". gloucestershirelive. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  20. "Construction worker from Poole is in Afghanistan as a reservist rifleman". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  21. "Chinook Force to be replaced in Afghanistan by Puma 2". RAF Odiham. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
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