The flag comes down: Boris Johnson confirms ‘most’ British military personnel have left Afghanistan ALREADY as he pledges that the UK will not ‘turn away’ from the country’s plight
Boris Johnson revealed today that ‘most’ British service personnel have already left Afghanistan after a military presence of 20 years.
In a statement to Parliament he vowed that the withdrawal did not mean that the UK would ‘turn away’ from the country’s precarious position.
He admitted ‘there could never be a perfect moment’ to pull out all troops after a conflict that saw more than 450 service personnel lose their lives.
But the UK’s hand was forced by the United States’ decision to withdraw its much larger force by September.
Mr Johnson told the Commons that he could not comment on the exact timing of the withdrawal, but added: ‘Most of our personnel have already left’.
In a statement to Parliament he vowed that the withdrawal did not mean that the UK would ‘turn away’ from the country’s precarious position.
Since 2001, 457 members of the UK Armed Forces have lost their lives in Afghanistan, and more than 150,000 UK personnel have served in the country.
Mr Johnson told the Commons that he could not comment on the exact timing of the withdrawal, but added: ‘Most of our personnel have already left’.
Asked by Labour’s Angela Rayner if he believes the threat to the UK from the country had been reduced, he replied;’ ‘yes I do.’
Since 2001, 457 members of the UK Armed Forces have lost their lives in Afghanistan, and more than 150,000 UK personnel have served in the country.