Operation Toral was the codename for the British presence within Afghanistan post-2014 as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission. UK forces had two major tasks: training and mentoring Afghan Forces, and providing force protection for NATO advisors via the Kabul Security Force/Kabul Protection Unit.[1]
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Prime Minister David Cameron announced that 3,800 troops—almost half of the force serving in Helmand Province—would be withdrawn during 2013[3] with numbers to fall to approximately 5,200.[4] The UK ceased all combat operations in Afghanistan and withdrew the last of its combat troops on 27 October 2014.[5][6] Between 2001 and 24 July 2015 a total of 454 British military personnel have died on operations in Afghanistan.[7][8]
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.[9]Forces.net reported that 5 were killed (Flight lieutenant Alan Scott of 33 Squadron, and Flight lieutenant Geraint Roberts of 230 SquadronRAF and 3 US Servicemen) and 5 more were injured.[10]
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.
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.[11]
In July 2018, the Independent reported that following a request for reinforcements by PresidentDonald 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.[13]
On 15 April 2021, Sky News reported that British troops in Afghanistan would begin their withdrawal in the following month, alongside other NATO allies.[15]
Operation Toral ended on 8 July 2021, however a small number of personnel remained in the country for diplomatic support.[16] Alongside NATO partners, the UK had trained 5,000 Afghan cadets, including 330 women, at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy (ANAOA). The withdrawal was carried out logistically across the armed forces, with the RAF alone making 50 flights, some of which involved the transportation of Puma helicopters. The Puma helicopters had airlifted 126,000 passengers and moved 660,000 kg of freight during their deployment.[16]
In August 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan and an ensuing Taliban offensive, the UK redeployed troops to the country to facilitate the evacuation of British nationals and staff under Operation Pitting.[2]
Roulements
The below list doesn't include support elements or individual augmenters from the three Services, such as personnel who have been assigned to specific Staff Officer roles in HQ Resolute Support Mission.
Soldier from the Household Cavalry aiming his rifle whilst deployed on Operation Toral, 24 September 2018.
United Kingdom
