🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 152 (from laksa104)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa152.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/war-afghanistan\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/war-afghanistan\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/war-afghanistan","crawl_time":1775464054,"first_indexed_time":1489810811,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"uk,ac,nam!www,\/explore\/war-afghanistan s443","src_root_hash":"2381857572575186952","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"War in Afghanistan | National Army Museum","meta_descriptions":["Britain's latest war in Afghanistan began in the wake of '9\/11' - the terrorist attacks on the United States that took place on 11 September 2001. It was interrupted by the Iraq War (2003-11) and dragged on until the last combat troops left the country on 26 October 2014."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Explore more from\nAfghanistan\nBritain's most recent war in Afghanistan began in the wake of the '9\/11' terrorist attacks on the United States. It continued for 13 years with the last combat troops leaving the country on 26 October 2014.\n6 minute read\nSoldiers watching air strikes on enemy positions in Musa Qala, 2006\nThe British war in Afghanistan\nThe war in Afghanistan spanned the tenures of three prime ministers, and cost the lives of 453 British service personnel and thousands of Afghans. What was accomplished after 13 years of conflict - which included eight years of heavy fighting in Helmand - still remains open to debate.\nMap of Afghanistan, 2004\n‘We’re in the south to help and protect the Afghan people to reconstruct their economy and democracy. We would be perfectly happy to leave in three years’ time without firing one shot.’\nJohn Reid, Secretary of State for Defence, on the British deployment to Helmand\n—\nApril 2006\nNovember 2001\nInvasion\nFollowing the '9\/11' terrorist attacks in America, Britain deployed to Afghanistan with the US and other allies to destroy al-Qaeda, and the Taleban who had backed them.\nDecember 2001\nKandahar\nThe Taleban’s last stronghold was captured on 7 December. An interim government was declared.\n2002\nPeacekeepers\nIn 2001, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) created the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), backed by the United Nations (UN). Their initial role was to secure Kabul, the Afghan capital. By April 2002 there were 1,700 British soldiers working alongside other Nato allies.\n2003\nReconstruction\nIn 2003 the UK deployed Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) in the north of Afghanistan. By March 2004 the British also provided the bulk of a Quick Reaction Force based at Mazar-e-Sharif. But the security situation was deteriorating.\n2004\nInsurgency\nA reorganised Taleban began copying the terror tactics of Iraqi insurgents. In January 2004, Private Jonathan Kitulagoda became the first British soldier killed in a combat role when a suicide bomber detonated his device next to his vehicle.\n2006\nHelmand\nIn April 2006, the British redeployed in strength, focusing on Helmand Province in the south. Over 3,000 troops were sent to help with reconstruction efforts. They operated out of Camp Bastion, a specially built base in the desert near the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. But operations were far more intense than expected, and British soldiers were drawn into heavy firefights in towns like Musa Qala and Sangin.\nMap of Helmand Province, 2004\n2009\nSecurity\nThe British launched Operation Panther’s Claw, a major operation to provide security for the 2009 presidential election. Britain led the operation, which secured canal and river crossings in Helmand around Lashkar Gah. 2009 would be Britain’s bloodiest year in Afghanistan, with 109 deaths.\n2010\nSurge\nThe British participated in the largest joint offensive to date in Helmand. Over 15,000 allied and Afghan troops attacked Marjah, a town which was controlled by the Taleban and by drug traffickers.\n2011\nTimetable\nOn 2 May 2011, US Special Forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. On 6 July, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the withdrawal of 500 British troops, cutting total numbers to 9,000 by September 2012. He also signalled his intention to end all British combat missions in Afghanistan by December 2014.\n2014\nWithdrawal\nThe British combat mission ended with the handover of Camp Bastion to Afghan forces on 26 October 2014. Some British troops remained in Afghanistan in training and advisory roles based in Kabul and Helmand.\n2021\nReturn of the Taleban\nAll international forces, including the last of these British soldiers, left Afghanistan following the Taleban's return to power.\nSoldiers on the final leg of their flight to Afghanistan, 2010\nEscalation\nThe war in Afghanistan sucked in enormous resources. What was planned as a short-term reconstruction mission turned into a full-blown war.\nAt its peak, there were 137 UK bases and around 9,500 British troops in Helmand Province alone. Camp Bastion grew to the size of Reading. Its perimeter wall was more than 20 miles long. Its 2.2-mile runway was used to ferry troops and supplies in and out - along with casualties. At the height of the fighting, there were more than 600 flights a day.\nLegacy\nThe legacy of the British campaign is harder to determine. British strategy was never clear. Operations to clear the towns of Helmand of insurgents were mixed with the efforts of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams to develop Helmand’s economic infrastructure.\nSchools, hospitals, roads, reservoirs and power generation aimed to help the Afghans become economically invested in stability. Agricultural projects also became a priority in order to persuade farmers to grow alternatives to opium.\nBut the fighting remained heavy, despite large-scale operations designed to drive the insurgents out of Helmand.\nPublic opinion in the UK increasingly turned against the war. The British began to invest heavily in the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, so that they would take more responsibility for the security situation in Helmand and the country as a whole. But what was the result?\n‘Britain has played a huge and honourable role in trying to do everything we can to give Afghanistan the chance of stability and security, and to make sure that it never again is a haven for terror. I know that the real long-term answer for Afghanistan is not simply security and stability and peace with its neighbours, but the real answer for Afghanistan is prosperity and growth and jobs and investment and wealth. That is absolutely key to the future of the country.’\nPrime Minister David Cameron\n—\nMarch 2013\nRepatriation service at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 2008\nCost\nThe war in Afghanistan cost the lives of 454 British servicemen and women, exceeding the death toll of the\nFalklands War\nin 1982. Total deaths of coalition forces (Britain, USA and allies) totalled 3,486. A further estimated 2,000 British military and civilian personnel were wounded in action. \nImprovised Explosive Device made from a plastic bottle, 2013\nIEDs\nImprovised Explosive Devices (IED) were a constant threat to troops in Afghanistan. They killed 224 British soldiers, accounting for almost half of all British deaths there. \nIEDs were made from a variety of ordinary materials that were hard to detect. As a result, they were particularly deadly to soldiers on foot patrol and transport convoys. Towards the end of the war, British personnel were responsible for training Afghan troops to locate and render IEDs safe.\nReplica weapons, like the bottle above, were used in training tasks to help Afghan disposal teams develop their abilities.\nA haul of insurgent weapons and IEDs uncovered in 2006 \nA search dog used for detecting IEDs in Afghanistan, 2006\nRecognition\nIn 2002, the British Army introduced an Operational Service Medal for personnel who had served in Afghanistan from 2001 onwards. It continued to be awarded after 2014 to troops advising and mentoring in Helmand and elsewhere.\nThe last of these soldiers - alongside others engaged in protection duties - stayed on until 2021, when all international forces left Afghanistan following the Taleban’s return to power.\nOperational Service Medal, awarded to British forces for service in Afghanistan\nExplore further\nStory\nIraq War: The invasion\nIn March 2003, British troops took part in a coalition invasion of Iraq. After a month of combat operations, they overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime and occupied the country.\nStory\nIraq War: The counter-insurgency\nBetween 2003 and 2009, British troops in Iraq were engaged in a counter-insurgency war. They also helped train local security units, assisted with reconstruction and provided humanitarian aid.\nstory\nFirst Afghan War\nBetween 1839 and 1842, British imperial forces fought a bitter war in Afghanistan. Initially successful, the British eventually withdrew having suffered one of the worst military disasters of the 19th century.\nstory\nSecond Afghan War\nBetween 1878 and 1880, British-Indian forces fought a war to ensure that Afghanistan remained free from Russian interference. Although eventually successful, the British suffered several setbacks in their struggle to control the volatile country.\nStory\nThird Afghan War and the Revolt in Waziristan\nIn May 1919, conflict broke out between British India and Afghanistan. Although peace was quickly agreed, the violence spread to the North West Frontier, challenging British control of that region.","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to main content](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/war-afghanistan#main-content)\n\n[![National Army Museum Logo](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/themes\/custom\/nam_2025\/src\/images\/national-army-museum-logo--on-dark.png)](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/)\n\n- CLOSED\n- FREE\n- Chelsea, London\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/donate-online)\n- [Shop](https:\/\/shop.nam.ac.uk\/)\n\n- [What's on](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/whats-on)\n- [Collections](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/collections)\n- [Explore](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore)\n- [Support us](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/support-us)\n- [Plan a visit](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/plan-visit)\n- [Families](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/families)\n- [Schools](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/schools)\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/donate-online)\n- [Shop](https:\/\/shop.nam.ac.uk\/)\n\nExplore more from  [Afghanistan](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/subjects\/afghanistan)\n\n# War in Afghanistan\nBritain's most recent war in Afghanistan began in the wake of the '9\/11' terrorist attacks on the United States. It continued for 13 years with the last combat troops leaving the country on 26 October 2014.\n\n6 minute read\n\n[Afghanistan](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/subjects\/afghanistan)   [Asia](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/subjects\/asia)   [2000s](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/subjects\/2000s)   [Global Role](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/series\/global-role)\n\n![British soldiers watching the after effects of a 500lb bomb dropped on an enemy position in Musa Qala](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)\n\n[View this object](https:\/\/collection.nam.ac.uk\/detail.php?acc=2006-10-3-229)\n\nSoldiers watching air strikes on enemy positions in Musa Qala, 2006\n\n## The British war in Afghanistan\nThe war in Afghanistan spanned the tenures of three prime ministers, and cost the lives of 453 British service personnel and thousands of Afghans. What was accomplished after 13 years of conflict - which included eight years of heavy fighting in Helmand - still remains open to debate.\n\n![Map of Afghanistan, 2004](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)\n\nMap of Afghanistan, 2004\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/themes\/custom\/nam_2025\/src\/icons\/quotation-mark-left--khaki.svg)\n\n> ‘We’re in the south to help and protect the Afghan people to reconstruct their economy and democracy. We would be perfectly happy to leave in three years’ time without firing one shot.’\n> \n> John Reid, Secretary of State for Defence, on the British deployment to Helmand — April 2006\n\n### November 2001\n#### Invasion\nFollowing the '9\/11' terrorist attacks in America, Britain deployed to Afghanistan with the US and other allies to destroy al-Qaeda, and the Taleban who had backed them.\n\n### December 2001\n#### Kandahar\nThe Taleban’s last stronghold was captured on 7 December. An interim government was declared.\n\n### 2002\n#### Peacekeepers\nIn 2001, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) created the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), backed by the United Nations (UN). Their initial role was to secure Kabul, the Afghan capital. By April 2002 there were 1,700 British soldiers working alongside other Nato allies.\n\n### 2003\n#### Reconstruction\nIn 2003 the UK deployed Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) in the north of Afghanistan. By March 2004 the British also provided the bulk of a Quick Reaction Force based at Mazar-e-Sharif. But the security situation was deteriorating.\n\n### 2004\n#### Insurgency\nA reorganised Taleban began copying the terror tactics of Iraqi insurgents. In January 2004, Private Jonathan Kitulagoda became the first British soldier killed in a combat role when a suicide bomber detonated his device next to his vehicle.\n\n### 2006\n#### Helmand\nIn April 2006, the British redeployed in strength, focusing on Helmand Province in the south. Over 3,000 troops were sent to help with reconstruction efforts. They operated out of Camp Bastion, a specially built base in the desert near the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. But operations were far more intense than expected, and British soldiers were drawn into heavy firefights in towns like Musa Qala and Sangin.\n\n![Map of Helmand Province, 2004](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)\n\nMap of Helmand Province, 2004\n\n### 2009\n#### Security\nThe British launched Operation Panther’s Claw, a major operation to provide security for the 2009 presidential election. Britain led the operation, which secured canal and river crossings in Helmand around Lashkar Gah. 2009 would be Britain’s bloodiest year in Afghanistan, with 109 deaths.\n\n### 2010\n#### Surge\nThe British participated in the largest joint offensive to date in Helmand. Over 15,000 allied and Afghan troops attacked Marjah, a town which was controlled by the Taleban and by drug traffickers.\n\n### 2011\n#### Timetable\nOn 2 May 2011, US Special Forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. On 6 July, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the withdrawal of 500 British troops, cutting total numbers to 9,000 by September 2012. He also signalled his intention to end all British combat missions in Afghanistan by December 2014.\n\n### 2014\n#### Withdrawal\nThe British combat mission ended with the handover of Camp Bastion to Afghan forces on 26 October 2014. Some British troops remained in Afghanistan in training and advisory roles based in Kabul and Helmand.\n\n### 2021\n#### Return of the Taleban\nAll international forces, including the last of these British soldiers, left Afghanistan following the Taleban's return to power.\n\n![Soldiers on the final leg of their flight to Afghanistan, 2010](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)\n\n[View this object](https:\/\/collection.nam.ac.uk\/detail.php?acc=2015-11-54-1)\n\nSoldiers on the final leg of their flight to Afghanistan, 2010\n\n## Escalation\nThe war in Afghanistan sucked in enormous resources. What was planned as a short-term reconstruction mission turned into a full-blown war.\n\nAt its peak, there were 137 UK bases and around 9,500 British troops in Helmand Province alone. Camp Bastion grew to the size of Reading. Its perimeter wall was more than 20 miles long. Its 2.2-mile runway was used to ferry troops and supplies in and out - along with casualties. At the height of the fighting, there were more than 600 flights a day.\n\n![Members of The Parachute Regiment training Afghan National Army soldiers, 2006](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)\n\n[View this object](https:\/\/collection.nam.ac.uk\/detail.php?acc=2006-10-3-10)\n\nMembers of The Parachute Regiment training Afghan National Army soldiers, 2006\n\n## Legacy\nThe legacy of the British campaign is harder to determine. British strategy was never clear. Operations to clear the towns of Helmand of insurgents were mixed with the efforts of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams to develop Helmand’s economic infrastructure.\n\nSchools, hospitals, roads, reservoirs and power generation aimed to help the Afghans become economically invested in stability. Agricultural projects also became a priority in order to persuade farmers to grow alternatives to opium.\n\nBut the fighting remained heavy, despite large-scale operations designed to drive the insurgents out of Helmand.\n\nPublic opinion in the UK increasingly turned against the war. The British began to invest heavily in the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, so that they would take more responsibility for the security situation in Helmand and the country as a whole. But what was the result?\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/themes\/custom\/nam_2025\/src\/icons\/quotation-mark-left--khaki.svg)\n\n> ‘Britain has played a huge and honourable role in trying to do everything we can to give Afghanistan the chance of stability and security, and to make sure that it never again is a haven for terror. I know that the real long-term answer for Afghanistan is not simply security and stability and peace with its neighbours, but the real answer for Afghanistan is prosperity and growth and jobs and investment and wealth. That is absolutely key to the future of the country.’\n> \n> Prime Minister David Cameron — March 2013\n\n![Repatriation service for Lt John Thornton and Marine Dave Marsh, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 3 April 2008](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)\n\nRepatriation service at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 2008\n\n## Cost\nThe war in Afghanistan cost the lives of 454 British servicemen and women, exceeding the death toll of the [Falklands War](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/british-army-and-falklands-war) in 1982. Total deaths of coalition forces (Britain, USA and allies) totalled 3,486. A further estimated 2,000 British military and civilian personnel were wounded in action.\n\n![Replica Improvised Explosive Device made from a plastic bottle, 2013](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)\n\n[View this object](https:\/\/collection.nam.ac.uk\/detail.php?acc=2013-11-39-1)\n\nImprovised Explosive Device made from a plastic bottle, 2013\n\n## IEDs\nImprovised Explosive Devices (IED) were a constant threat to troops in Afghanistan. They killed 224 British soldiers, accounting for almost half of all British deaths there.\n\nIEDs were made from a variety of ordinary materials that were hard to detect. As a result, they were particularly deadly to soldiers on foot patrol and transport convoys. Towards the end of the war, British personnel were responsible for training Afghan troops to locate and render IEDs safe.\n\nReplica weapons, like the bottle above, were used in training tasks to help Afghan disposal teams develop their abilities.\n\n![A haul of insurgent weapons, IEDs and equipment uncovered in 2006 ](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)\n\n[View this object](https:\/\/collection.nam.ac.uk\/detail.php?acc=2007-06-8-22)\n\nA haul of insurgent weapons and IEDs uncovered in 2006\n\n![An Arms and Explosives search dog used for detection of IEDs in Afghanistan, 2006](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)\n\n[View this object](https:\/\/collection.nam.ac.uk\/detail.php?acc=2012-11-31-55)\n\nA search dog used for detecting IEDs in Afghanistan, 2006\n\n## Recognition\nIn 2002, the British Army introduced an Operational Service Medal for personnel who had served in Afghanistan from 2001 onwards. It continued to be awarded after 2014 to troops advising and mentoring in Helmand and elsewhere.\n\nThe last of these soldiers - alongside others engaged in protection duties - stayed on until 2021, when all international forces left Afghanistan following the Taleban’s return to power.\n\n![Operational Service Medal, awarded to British forces for service in Afghanistan. ](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)\n\n[View this object](https:\/\/collection.nam.ac.uk\/detail.php?acc=2013-12-5-2)\n\nOperational Service Medal, awarded to British forces for service in Afghanistan\n\n## Explore further\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/related_mobile\/public\/2019-04\/101607_slice.jpg.webp?itok=6NO1V7Jr)\n\nStory\n\n### [Iraq War: The invasion](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/iraq-war-invasion)\nIn March 2003, British troops took part in a coalition invasion of Iraq. After a month of combat operations, they overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime and occupied the country.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/related_mobile\/public\/2019-04\/208801-slice.jpg.webp?itok=jbBSKJTo)\n\nStory\n\n### [Iraq War: The counter-insurgency](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/iraq-war-counter-insurgency)\nBetween 2003 and 2009, British troops in Iraq were engaged in a counter-insurgency war. They also helped train local security units, assisted with reconstruction and provided humanitarian aid.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/related_mobile\/public\/2017-01\/141728_full.jpg.webp?itok=W39hPcVF)\n\nOnline Collection\n\n### [From the Collection: Afghanistan](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/collection-afghanistan)\nExplore more objects from the War in Afghanistan in the National Army Museum's collections.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/related_mobile\/public\/2019-07\/9410_half.jpg.webp?itok=bp_POQ3X)\n\nstory\n\n### [First Afghan War](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/first-afghan-war)\nBetween 1839 and 1842, British imperial forces fought a bitter war in Afghanistan. Initially successful, the British eventually withdrew having suffered one of the worst military disasters of the 19th century.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/related_mobile\/public\/2019-08\/130458_half.jpg.webp?itok=_4-6kKds)\n\nstory\n\n### [Second Afghan War](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/second-afghan-war)\nBetween 1878 and 1880, British-Indian forces fought a war to ensure that Afghanistan remained free from Russian interference. Although eventually successful, the British suffered several setbacks in their struggle to control the volatile country.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/related_mobile\/public\/2019-01\/98812_half_0.jpg.webp?itok=X2v_hsKW)\n\nStory\n\n### [Third Afghan War and the Revolt in Waziristan](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/third-afghan-war-and-revolt-waziristan)\nIn May 1919, conflict broke out between British India and Afghanistan. Although peace was quickly agreed, the violence spread to the North West Frontier, challenging British control of that region.\n\n- About us\n- [About the museum](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/about)\n- [Press](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/press)\n- [Contact](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/contact)\n\n- Get involved\n- [Support us](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/support-us)\n- [Donate online](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/donate-online)\n- [Jobs](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/jobs)\n- [Volunteer](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/volunteer)\n\n- Services\n- [Play Base](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/families\/play-base)\n- [Birthday Parties](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/families\/birthday-parties)\n- [Templer Study Centre](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/collections\/templer-study-centre)\n- [Picture Library](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/picture-library)\n- [Venue Hire](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/venue-hire)\n\n- Museums liaison\n- [Museums training programme](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/museums-training-programme)\n- [Regimental and Corps Museum networks](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/regimental-and-corps-museum-networks)\n\n## Find us on social media\n- [Follow us on Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NationalArmyMuseum\/)\n- [Follow us on Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/NAM_London)\n- [Follow us on Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nam_london\/)\n- [Follow us on YouTube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/NationalArmyMuseumUK)\n\nNational Army Museum  \n Royal Hospital Road  \n London SW3 4HT\n\nRegistered Charity Number: 237902\n\n- [Terms of use](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/terms-use)\n- [Privacy and cookies](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/about\/privacy-and-cookies)\n- [Accessibility](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/about\/accessibility)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Explore more from  [Afghanistan](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/subjects\/afghanistan)\n\nBritain's most recent war in Afghanistan began in the wake of the '9\/11' terrorist attacks on the United States. It continued for 13 years with the last combat troops leaving the country on 26 October 2014.\n\n6 minute read\n\n![British soldiers watching the after effects of a 500lb bomb dropped on an enemy position in Musa Qala](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/slice_lg\/public\/2017-01\/108006_slice.jpg.webp?itok=OLsSg6yJ)\n\nSoldiers watching air strikes on enemy positions in Musa Qala, 2006\n\n## The British war in Afghanistan\nThe war in Afghanistan spanned the tenures of three prime ministers, and cost the lives of 453 British service personnel and thousands of Afghans. What was accomplished after 13 years of conflict - which included eight years of heavy fighting in Helmand - still remains open to debate.\n\n![Map of Afghanistan, 2004](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-06\/nam_maps_m3-01.jpg)\n\nMap of Afghanistan, 2004\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/themes\/custom\/nam_2025\/src\/icons\/quotation-mark-left--khaki.svg)\n\n> ‘We’re in the south to help and protect the Afghan people to reconstruct their economy and democracy. We would be perfectly happy to leave in three years’ time without firing one shot.’\n> \n> John Reid, Secretary of State for Defence, on the British deployment to Helmand — April 2006\n\n### November 2001\n#### Invasion\nFollowing the '9\/11' terrorist attacks in America, Britain deployed to Afghanistan with the US and other allies to destroy al-Qaeda, and the Taleban who had backed them.\n\n### December 2001\n#### Kandahar\nThe Taleban’s last stronghold was captured on 7 December. An interim government was declared.\n\n### 2002\n#### Peacekeepers\nIn 2001, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) created the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), backed by the United Nations (UN). Their initial role was to secure Kabul, the Afghan capital. By April 2002 there were 1,700 British soldiers working alongside other Nato allies.\n\n### 2003\n#### Reconstruction\nIn 2003 the UK deployed Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) in the north of Afghanistan. By March 2004 the British also provided the bulk of a Quick Reaction Force based at Mazar-e-Sharif. But the security situation was deteriorating.\n\n### 2004\n#### Insurgency\nA reorganised Taleban began copying the terror tactics of Iraqi insurgents. In January 2004, Private Jonathan Kitulagoda became the first British soldier killed in a combat role when a suicide bomber detonated his device next to his vehicle.\n\n### 2006\n#### Helmand\nIn April 2006, the British redeployed in strength, focusing on Helmand Province in the south. Over 3,000 troops were sent to help with reconstruction efforts. They operated out of Camp Bastion, a specially built base in the desert near the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. But operations were far more intense than expected, and British soldiers were drawn into heavy firefights in towns like Musa Qala and Sangin.\n\n![Map of Helmand Province, 2004](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-06\/nam_maps_m4-01.jpg)\n\nMap of Helmand Province, 2004\n\n### 2009\n#### Security\nThe British launched Operation Panther’s Claw, a major operation to provide security for the 2009 presidential election. Britain led the operation, which secured canal and river crossings in Helmand around Lashkar Gah. 2009 would be Britain’s bloodiest year in Afghanistan, with 109 deaths.\n\n### 2010\n#### Surge\nThe British participated in the largest joint offensive to date in Helmand. Over 15,000 allied and Afghan troops attacked Marjah, a town which was controlled by the Taleban and by drug traffickers.\n\n### 2011\n#### Timetable\nOn 2 May 2011, US Special Forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. On 6 July, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the withdrawal of 500 British troops, cutting total numbers to 9,000 by September 2012. He also signalled his intention to end all British combat missions in Afghanistan by December 2014.\n\n### 2014\n#### Withdrawal\nThe British combat mission ended with the handover of Camp Bastion to Afghan forces on 26 October 2014. Some British troops remained in Afghanistan in training and advisory roles based in Kabul and Helmand.\n\n### 2021\n#### Return of the Taleban\nAll international forces, including the last of these British soldiers, left Afghanistan following the Taleban's return to power.\n\n![Soldiers on the final leg of their flight to Afghanistan, 2010](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/slice_lg\/public\/2017-02\/163492_slice.jpg.webp?itok=j6bZQxTL)\n\nSoldiers on the final leg of their flight to Afghanistan, 2010\n\n## Escalation\nThe war in Afghanistan sucked in enormous resources. What was planned as a short-term reconstruction mission turned into a full-blown war.\n\nAt its peak, there were 137 UK bases and around 9,500 British troops in Helmand Province alone. Camp Bastion grew to the size of Reading. Its perimeter wall was more than 20 miles long. Its 2.2-mile runway was used to ferry troops and supplies in and out - along with casualties. At the height of the fighting, there were more than 600 flights a day.\n\n## Legacy\nThe legacy of the British campaign is harder to determine. British strategy was never clear. Operations to clear the towns of Helmand of insurgents were mixed with the efforts of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams to develop Helmand’s economic infrastructure.\n\nSchools, hospitals, roads, reservoirs and power generation aimed to help the Afghans become economically invested in stability. Agricultural projects also became a priority in order to persuade farmers to grow alternatives to opium.\n\nBut the fighting remained heavy, despite large-scale operations designed to drive the insurgents out of Helmand.\n\nPublic opinion in the UK increasingly turned against the war. The British began to invest heavily in the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, so that they would take more responsibility for the security situation in Helmand and the country as a whole. But what was the result?\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/themes\/custom\/nam_2025\/src\/icons\/quotation-mark-left--khaki.svg)\n\n> ‘Britain has played a huge and honourable role in trying to do everything we can to give Afghanistan the chance of stability and security, and to make sure that it never again is a haven for terror. I know that the real long-term answer for Afghanistan is not simply security and stability and peace with its neighbours, but the real answer for Afghanistan is prosperity and growth and jobs and investment and wealth. That is absolutely key to the future of the country.’\n> \n> Prime Minister David Cameron — March 2013\n\n![Repatriation service for Lt John Thornton and Marine Dave Marsh, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 3 April 2008](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/slice_lg\/public\/2017-01\/184969_slice.jpg.webp?itok=YYGaHMot)\n\nRepatriation service at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 2008\n\n## Cost\nThe war in Afghanistan cost the lives of 454 British servicemen and women, exceeding the death toll of the [Falklands War](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/british-army-and-falklands-war) in 1982. Total deaths of coalition forces (Britain, USA and allies) totalled 3,486. A further estimated 2,000 British military and civilian personnel were wounded in action.\n\n![Replica Improvised Explosive Device made from a plastic bottle, 2013](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2017-01\/141728_full.jpg)\n\nImprovised Explosive Device made from a plastic bottle, 2013\n\n## IEDs\nImprovised Explosive Devices (IED) were a constant threat to troops in Afghanistan. They killed 224 British soldiers, accounting for almost half of all British deaths there.\n\nIEDs were made from a variety of ordinary materials that were hard to detect. As a result, they were particularly deadly to soldiers on foot patrol and transport convoys. Towards the end of the war, British personnel were responsible for training Afghan troops to locate and render IEDs safe.\n\nReplica weapons, like the bottle above, were used in training tasks to help Afghan disposal teams develop their abilities.\n\n![A haul of insurgent weapons, IEDs and equipment uncovered in 2006 ](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2017-02\/110981_half.jpg)\n\nA haul of insurgent weapons and IEDs uncovered in 2006\n\n![An Arms and Explosives search dog used for detection of IEDs in Afghanistan, 2006](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2017-02\/102228_half.jpg)\n\nA search dog used for detecting IEDs in Afghanistan, 2006\n\n## Recognition\nIn 2002, the British Army introduced an Operational Service Medal for personnel who had served in Afghanistan from 2001 onwards. It continued to be awarded after 2014 to troops advising and mentoring in Helmand and elsewhere.\n\nThe last of these soldiers - alongside others engaged in protection duties - stayed on until 2021, when all international forces left Afghanistan following the Taleban’s return to power.\n\n![Operational Service Medal, awarded to British forces for service in Afghanistan. ](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2017-01\/148235_full.jpg)\n\nOperational Service Medal, awarded to British forces for service in Afghanistan\n\nExplore further\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/related_mobile\/public\/2019-04\/101607_slice.jpg.webp?itok=6NO1V7Jr)\n\nStory\n\n### [Iraq War: The invasion](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/iraq-war-invasion)\nIn March 2003, British troops took part in a coalition invasion of Iraq. After a month of combat operations, they overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime and occupied the country.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/related_mobile\/public\/2019-04\/208801-slice.jpg.webp?itok=jbBSKJTo)\n\nStory\n\n### [Iraq War: The counter-insurgency](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/iraq-war-counter-insurgency)\nBetween 2003 and 2009, British troops in Iraq were engaged in a counter-insurgency war. They also helped train local security units, assisted with reconstruction and provided humanitarian aid.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/related_mobile\/public\/2019-07\/9410_half.jpg.webp?itok=bp_POQ3X)\n\nstory\n\n### [First Afghan War](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/first-afghan-war)\nBetween 1839 and 1842, British imperial forces fought a bitter war in Afghanistan. Initially successful, the British eventually withdrew having suffered one of the worst military disasters of the 19th century.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/related_mobile\/public\/2019-08\/130458_half.jpg.webp?itok=_4-6kKds)\n\nstory\n\n### [Second Afghan War](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/second-afghan-war)\nBetween 1878 and 1880, British-Indian forces fought a war to ensure that Afghanistan remained free from Russian interference. Although eventually successful, the British suffered several setbacks in their struggle to control the volatile country.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/related_mobile\/public\/2019-01\/98812_half_0.jpg.webp?itok=X2v_hsKW)\n\nStory\n\n### [Third Afghan War and the Revolt in Waziristan](https:\/\/www.nam.ac.uk\/explore\/third-afghan-war-and-revolt-waziristan)\nIn May 1919, conflict broke out between British India and Afghanistan. Although peace was quickly agreed, the violence spread to the North West Frontier, challenging British control of that region.","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	War in Afghanistan \| National Army Museum
Meta Description	Britain's latest war in Afghanistan began in the wake of '9/11' - the terrorist attacks on the United States that took place on 11 September 2001. It was interrupted by the Iraq War (2003-11) and dragged on until the last combat troops left the country on 26 October 2014.
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Boilerpipe Text	Explore more from Afghanistan Britain's most recent war in Afghanistan began in the wake of the '9/11' terrorist attacks on the United States. It continued for 13 years with the last combat troops leaving the country on 26 October 2014. 6 minute read Soldiers watching air strikes on enemy positions in Musa Qala, 2006 The British war in Afghanistan The war in Afghanistan spanned the tenures of three prime ministers, and cost the lives of 453 British service personnel and thousands of Afghans. What was accomplished after 13 years of conflict - which included eight years of heavy fighting in Helmand - still remains open to debate. Map of Afghanistan, 2004 ‘We’re in the south to help and protect the Afghan people to reconstruct their economy and democracy. We would be perfectly happy to leave in three years’ time without firing one shot.’ John Reid, Secretary of State for Defence, on the British deployment to Helmand — April 2006 November 2001 Invasion Following the '9/11' terrorist attacks in America, Britain deployed to Afghanistan with the US and other allies to destroy al-Qaeda, and the Taleban who had backed them. December 2001 Kandahar The Taleban’s last stronghold was captured on 7 December. An interim government was declared. 2002 Peacekeepers In 2001, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) created the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), backed by the United Nations (UN). Their initial role was to secure Kabul, the Afghan capital. By April 2002 there were 1,700 British soldiers working alongside other Nato allies. 2003 Reconstruction In 2003 the UK deployed Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) in the north of Afghanistan. By March 2004 the British also provided the bulk of a Quick Reaction Force based at Mazar-e-Sharif. But the security situation was deteriorating. 2004 Insurgency A reorganised Taleban began copying the terror tactics of Iraqi insurgents. In January 2004, Private Jonathan Kitulagoda became the first British soldier killed in a combat role when a suicide bomber detonated his device next to his vehicle. 2006 Helmand In April 2006, the British redeployed in strength, focusing on Helmand Province in the south. Over 3,000 troops were sent to help with reconstruction efforts. They operated out of Camp Bastion, a specially built base in the desert near the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. But operations were far more intense than expected, and British soldiers were drawn into heavy firefights in towns like Musa Qala and Sangin. Map of Helmand Province, 2004 2009 Security The British launched Operation Panther’s Claw, a major operation to provide security for the 2009 presidential election. Britain led the operation, which secured canal and river crossings in Helmand around Lashkar Gah. 2009 would be Britain’s bloodiest year in Afghanistan, with 109 deaths. 2010 Surge The British participated in the largest joint offensive to date in Helmand. Over 15,000 allied and Afghan troops attacked Marjah, a town which was controlled by the Taleban and by drug traffickers. 2011 Timetable On 2 May 2011, US Special Forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. On 6 July, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the withdrawal of 500 British troops, cutting total numbers to 9,000 by September 2012. He also signalled his intention to end all British combat missions in Afghanistan by December 2014. 2014 Withdrawal The British combat mission ended with the handover of Camp Bastion to Afghan forces on 26 October 2014. Some British troops remained in Afghanistan in training and advisory roles based in Kabul and Helmand. 2021 Return of the Taleban All international forces, including the last of these British soldiers, left Afghanistan following the Taleban's return to power. Soldiers on the final leg of their flight to Afghanistan, 2010 Escalation The war in Afghanistan sucked in enormous resources. What was planned as a short-term reconstruction mission turned into a full-blown war. At its peak, there were 137 UK bases and around 9,500 British troops in Helmand Province alone. Camp Bastion grew to the size of Reading. Its perimeter wall was more than 20 miles long. Its 2.2-mile runway was used to ferry troops and supplies in and out - along with casualties. At the height of the fighting, there were more than 600 flights a day. Legacy The legacy of the British campaign is harder to determine. British strategy was never clear. Operations to clear the towns of Helmand of insurgents were mixed with the efforts of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams to develop Helmand’s economic infrastructure. Schools, hospitals, roads, reservoirs and power generation aimed to help the Afghans become economically invested in stability. Agricultural projects also became a priority in order to persuade farmers to grow alternatives to opium. But the fighting remained heavy, despite large-scale operations designed to drive the insurgents out of Helmand. Public opinion in the UK increasingly turned against the war. The British began to invest heavily in the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, so that they would take more responsibility for the security situation in Helmand and the country as a whole. But what was the result? ‘Britain has played a huge and honourable role in trying to do everything we can to give Afghanistan the chance of stability and security, and to make sure that it never again is a haven for terror. I know that the real long-term answer for Afghanistan is not simply security and stability and peace with its neighbours, but the real answer for Afghanistan is prosperity and growth and jobs and investment and wealth. That is absolutely key to the future of the country.’ Prime Minister David Cameron — March 2013 Repatriation service at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 2008 Cost The war in Afghanistan cost the lives of 454 British servicemen and women, exceeding the death toll of the Falklands War in 1982. Total deaths of coalition forces (Britain, USA and allies) totalled 3,486. A further estimated 2,000 British military and civilian personnel were wounded in action. Improvised Explosive Device made from a plastic bottle, 2013 IEDs Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) were a constant threat to troops in Afghanistan. They killed 224 British soldiers, accounting for almost half of all British deaths there. IEDs were made from a variety of ordinary materials that were hard to detect. As a result, they were particularly deadly to soldiers on foot patrol and transport convoys. Towards the end of the war, British personnel were responsible for training Afghan troops to locate and render IEDs safe. Replica weapons, like the bottle above, were used in training tasks to help Afghan disposal teams develop their abilities. A haul of insurgent weapons and IEDs uncovered in 2006 A search dog used for detecting IEDs in Afghanistan, 2006 Recognition In 2002, the British Army introduced an Operational Service Medal for personnel who had served in Afghanistan from 2001 onwards. It continued to be awarded after 2014 to troops advising and mentoring in Helmand and elsewhere. The last of these soldiers - alongside others engaged in protection duties - stayed on until 2021, when all international forces left Afghanistan following the Taleban’s return to power. Operational Service Medal, awarded to British forces for service in Afghanistan Explore further Story Iraq War: The invasion In March 2003, British troops took part in a coalition invasion of Iraq. After a month of combat operations, they overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime and occupied the country. Story Iraq War: The counter-insurgency Between 2003 and 2009, British troops in Iraq were engaged in a counter-insurgency war. They also helped train local security units, assisted with reconstruction and provided humanitarian aid. story First Afghan War Between 1839 and 1842, British imperial forces fought a bitter war in Afghanistan. Initially successful, the British eventually withdrew having suffered one of the worst military disasters of the 19th century. story Second Afghan War Between 1878 and 1880, British-Indian forces fought a war to ensure that Afghanistan remained free from Russian interference. Although eventually successful, the British suffered several setbacks in their struggle to control the volatile country. Story Third Afghan War and the Revolt in Waziristan In May 1919, conflict broke out between British India and Afghanistan. Although peace was quickly agreed, the violence spread to the North West Frontier, challenging British control of that region.
Markdown	[Skip to main content](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/war-afghanistan#main-content) [![National Army Museum Logo](https://www.nam.ac.uk/themes/custom/nam_2025/src/images/national-army-museum-logo--on-dark.png)](https://www.nam.ac.uk/) - CLOSED - FREE - Chelsea, London - [Donate](https://www.nam.ac.uk/donate-online) - [Shop](https://shop.nam.ac.uk/) - [What's on](https://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on) - [Collections](https://www.nam.ac.uk/collections) - [Explore](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore) - [Support us](https://www.nam.ac.uk/support-us) - [Plan a visit](https://www.nam.ac.uk/plan-visit) - [Families](https://www.nam.ac.uk/families) - [Schools](https://www.nam.ac.uk/schools) - [Donate](https://www.nam.ac.uk/donate-online) - [Shop](https://shop.nam.ac.uk/) Explore more from [Afghanistan](https://www.nam.ac.uk/subjects/afghanistan) # War in Afghanistan Britain's most recent war in Afghanistan began in the wake of the '9/11' terrorist attacks on the United States. It continued for 13 years with the last combat troops leaving the country on 26 October 2014. 6 minute read [Afghanistan](https://www.nam.ac.uk/subjects/afghanistan) [Asia](https://www.nam.ac.uk/subjects/asia) [2000s](https://www.nam.ac.uk/subjects/2000s) [Global Role](https://www.nam.ac.uk/series/global-role) ![British soldiers watching the after effects of a 500lb bomb dropped on an enemy position in Musa Qala](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) [View this object](https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2006-10-3-229) Soldiers watching air strikes on enemy positions in Musa Qala, 2006 ## The British war in Afghanistan The war in Afghanistan spanned the tenures of three prime ministers, and cost the lives of 453 British service personnel and thousands of Afghans. What was accomplished after 13 years of conflict - which included eight years of heavy fighting in Helmand - still remains open to debate. ![Map of Afghanistan, 2004](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) Map of Afghanistan, 2004 ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/themes/custom/nam_2025/src/icons/quotation-mark-left--khaki.svg) > ‘We’re in the south to help and protect the Afghan people to reconstruct their economy and democracy. We would be perfectly happy to leave in three years’ time without firing one shot.’ > > John Reid, Secretary of State for Defence, on the British deployment to Helmand — April 2006 ### November 2001 #### Invasion Following the '9/11' terrorist attacks in America, Britain deployed to Afghanistan with the US and other allies to destroy al-Qaeda, and the Taleban who had backed them. ### December 2001 #### Kandahar The Taleban’s last stronghold was captured on 7 December. An interim government was declared. ### 2002 #### Peacekeepers In 2001, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) created the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), backed by the United Nations (UN). Their initial role was to secure Kabul, the Afghan capital. By April 2002 there were 1,700 British soldiers working alongside other Nato allies. ### 2003 #### Reconstruction In 2003 the UK deployed Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) in the north of Afghanistan. By March 2004 the British also provided the bulk of a Quick Reaction Force based at Mazar-e-Sharif. But the security situation was deteriorating. ### 2004 #### Insurgency A reorganised Taleban began copying the terror tactics of Iraqi insurgents. In January 2004, Private Jonathan Kitulagoda became the first British soldier killed in a combat role when a suicide bomber detonated his device next to his vehicle. ### 2006 #### Helmand In April 2006, the British redeployed in strength, focusing on Helmand Province in the south. Over 3,000 troops were sent to help with reconstruction efforts. They operated out of Camp Bastion, a specially built base in the desert near the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. But operations were far more intense than expected, and British soldiers were drawn into heavy firefights in towns like Musa Qala and Sangin. ![Map of Helmand Province, 2004](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) Map of Helmand Province, 2004 ### 2009 #### Security The British launched Operation Panther’s Claw, a major operation to provide security for the 2009 presidential election. Britain led the operation, which secured canal and river crossings in Helmand around Lashkar Gah. 2009 would be Britain’s bloodiest year in Afghanistan, with 109 deaths. ### 2010 #### Surge The British participated in the largest joint offensive to date in Helmand. Over 15,000 allied and Afghan troops attacked Marjah, a town which was controlled by the Taleban and by drug traffickers. ### 2011 #### Timetable On 2 May 2011, US Special Forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. On 6 July, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the withdrawal of 500 British troops, cutting total numbers to 9,000 by September 2012. He also signalled his intention to end all British combat missions in Afghanistan by December 2014. ### 2014 #### Withdrawal The British combat mission ended with the handover of Camp Bastion to Afghan forces on 26 October 2014. Some British troops remained in Afghanistan in training and advisory roles based in Kabul and Helmand. ### 2021 #### Return of the Taleban All international forces, including the last of these British soldiers, left Afghanistan following the Taleban's return to power. ![Soldiers on the final leg of their flight to Afghanistan, 2010](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) [View this object](https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2015-11-54-1) Soldiers on the final leg of their flight to Afghanistan, 2010 ## Escalation The war in Afghanistan sucked in enormous resources. What was planned as a short-term reconstruction mission turned into a full-blown war. At its peak, there were 137 UK bases and around 9,500 British troops in Helmand Province alone. Camp Bastion grew to the size of Reading. Its perimeter wall was more than 20 miles long. Its 2.2-mile runway was used to ferry troops and supplies in and out - along with casualties. At the height of the fighting, there were more than 600 flights a day. ![Members of The Parachute Regiment training Afghan National Army soldiers, 2006](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) [View this object](https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2006-10-3-10) Members of The Parachute Regiment training Afghan National Army soldiers, 2006 ## Legacy The legacy of the British campaign is harder to determine. British strategy was never clear. Operations to clear the towns of Helmand of insurgents were mixed with the efforts of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams to develop Helmand’s economic infrastructure. Schools, hospitals, roads, reservoirs and power generation aimed to help the Afghans become economically invested in stability. Agricultural projects also became a priority in order to persuade farmers to grow alternatives to opium. But the fighting remained heavy, despite large-scale operations designed to drive the insurgents out of Helmand. Public opinion in the UK increasingly turned against the war. The British began to invest heavily in the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, so that they would take more responsibility for the security situation in Helmand and the country as a whole. But what was the result? ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/themes/custom/nam_2025/src/icons/quotation-mark-left--khaki.svg) > ‘Britain has played a huge and honourable role in trying to do everything we can to give Afghanistan the chance of stability and security, and to make sure that it never again is a haven for terror. I know that the real long-term answer for Afghanistan is not simply security and stability and peace with its neighbours, but the real answer for Afghanistan is prosperity and growth and jobs and investment and wealth. That is absolutely key to the future of the country.’ > > Prime Minister David Cameron — March 2013 ![Repatriation service for Lt John Thornton and Marine Dave Marsh, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 3 April 2008](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) Repatriation service at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 2008 ## Cost The war in Afghanistan cost the lives of 454 British servicemen and women, exceeding the death toll of the [Falklands War](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/british-army-and-falklands-war) in 1982. Total deaths of coalition forces (Britain, USA and allies) totalled 3,486. A further estimated 2,000 British military and civilian personnel were wounded in action. ![Replica Improvised Explosive Device made from a plastic bottle, 2013](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) [View this object](https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2013-11-39-1) Improvised Explosive Device made from a plastic bottle, 2013 ## IEDs Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) were a constant threat to troops in Afghanistan. They killed 224 British soldiers, accounting for almost half of all British deaths there. IEDs were made from a variety of ordinary materials that were hard to detect. As a result, they were particularly deadly to soldiers on foot patrol and transport convoys. Towards the end of the war, British personnel were responsible for training Afghan troops to locate and render IEDs safe. Replica weapons, like the bottle above, were used in training tasks to help Afghan disposal teams develop their abilities. ![A haul of insurgent weapons, IEDs and equipment uncovered in 2006 ](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) [View this object](https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2007-06-8-22) A haul of insurgent weapons and IEDs uncovered in 2006 ![An Arms and Explosives search dog used for detection of IEDs in Afghanistan, 2006](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) [View this object](https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2012-11-31-55) A search dog used for detecting IEDs in Afghanistan, 2006 ## Recognition In 2002, the British Army introduced an Operational Service Medal for personnel who had served in Afghanistan from 2001 onwards. It continued to be awarded after 2014 to troops advising and mentoring in Helmand and elsewhere. The last of these soldiers - alongside others engaged in protection duties - stayed on until 2021, when all international forces left Afghanistan following the Taleban’s return to power. ![Operational Service Medal, awarded to British forces for service in Afghanistan. ](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) [View this object](https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2013-12-5-2) Operational Service Medal, awarded to British forces for service in Afghanistan ## Explore further ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/related_mobile/public/2019-04/101607_slice.jpg.webp?itok=6NO1V7Jr) Story ### [Iraq War: The invasion](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/iraq-war-invasion) In March 2003, British troops took part in a coalition invasion of Iraq. After a month of combat operations, they overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime and occupied the country. ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/related_mobile/public/2019-04/208801-slice.jpg.webp?itok=jbBSKJTo) Story ### [Iraq War: The counter-insurgency](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/iraq-war-counter-insurgency) Between 2003 and 2009, British troops in Iraq were engaged in a counter-insurgency war. They also helped train local security units, assisted with reconstruction and provided humanitarian aid. ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/related_mobile/public/2017-01/141728_full.jpg.webp?itok=W39hPcVF) Online Collection ### [From the Collection: Afghanistan](https://www.nam.ac.uk/collection-afghanistan) Explore more objects from the War in Afghanistan in the National Army Museum's collections. ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/related_mobile/public/2019-07/9410_half.jpg.webp?itok=bp_POQ3X) story ### [First Afghan War](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/first-afghan-war) Between 1839 and 1842, British imperial forces fought a bitter war in Afghanistan. Initially successful, the British eventually withdrew having suffered one of the worst military disasters of the 19th century. ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/related_mobile/public/2019-08/130458_half.jpg.webp?itok=_4-6kKds) story ### [Second Afghan War](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/second-afghan-war) Between 1878 and 1880, British-Indian forces fought a war to ensure that Afghanistan remained free from Russian interference. Although eventually successful, the British suffered several setbacks in their struggle to control the volatile country. ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/related_mobile/public/2019-01/98812_half_0.jpg.webp?itok=X2v_hsKW) Story ### [Third Afghan War and the Revolt in Waziristan](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/third-afghan-war-and-revolt-waziristan) In May 1919, conflict broke out between British India and Afghanistan. Although peace was quickly agreed, the violence spread to the North West Frontier, challenging British control of that region. - About us - [About the museum](https://www.nam.ac.uk/about) - [Press](https://www.nam.ac.uk/press) - [Contact](https://www.nam.ac.uk/contact) - Get involved - [Support us](https://www.nam.ac.uk/support-us) - [Donate online](https://www.nam.ac.uk/donate-online) - [Jobs](https://www.nam.ac.uk/jobs) - [Volunteer](https://www.nam.ac.uk/volunteer) - Services - [Play Base](https://www.nam.ac.uk/families/play-base) - [Birthday Parties](https://www.nam.ac.uk/families/birthday-parties) - [Templer Study Centre](https://www.nam.ac.uk/collections/templer-study-centre) - [Picture Library](https://www.nam.ac.uk/picture-library) - [Venue Hire](https://www.nam.ac.uk/venue-hire) - Museums liaison - [Museums training programme](https://www.nam.ac.uk/museums-training-programme) - [Regimental and Corps Museum networks](https://www.nam.ac.uk/regimental-and-corps-museum-networks) ## Find us on social media - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/NationalArmyMuseum/) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/NAM_London) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/nam_london/) - [Follow us on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/NationalArmyMuseumUK) National Army Museum Royal Hospital Road London SW3 4HT Registered Charity Number: 237902 - [Terms of use](https://www.nam.ac.uk/terms-use) - [Privacy and cookies](https://www.nam.ac.uk/about/privacy-and-cookies) - [Accessibility](https://www.nam.ac.uk/about/accessibility)
Readable Markdown	Explore more from [Afghanistan](https://www.nam.ac.uk/subjects/afghanistan) Britain's most recent war in Afghanistan began in the wake of the '9/11' terrorist attacks on the United States. It continued for 13 years with the last combat troops leaving the country on 26 October 2014. 6 minute read ![British soldiers watching the after effects of a 500lb bomb dropped on an enemy position in Musa Qala](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/slice_lg/public/2017-01/108006_slice.jpg.webp?itok=OLsSg6yJ) Soldiers watching air strikes on enemy positions in Musa Qala, 2006 ## The British war in Afghanistan The war in Afghanistan spanned the tenures of three prime ministers, and cost the lives of 453 British service personnel and thousands of Afghans. What was accomplished after 13 years of conflict - which included eight years of heavy fighting in Helmand - still remains open to debate. ![Map of Afghanistan, 2004](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-06/nam_maps_m3-01.jpg) Map of Afghanistan, 2004 ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/themes/custom/nam_2025/src/icons/quotation-mark-left--khaki.svg) > ‘We’re in the south to help and protect the Afghan people to reconstruct their economy and democracy. We would be perfectly happy to leave in three years’ time without firing one shot.’ > > John Reid, Secretary of State for Defence, on the British deployment to Helmand — April 2006 ### November 2001 #### Invasion Following the '9/11' terrorist attacks in America, Britain deployed to Afghanistan with the US and other allies to destroy al-Qaeda, and the Taleban who had backed them. ### December 2001 #### Kandahar The Taleban’s last stronghold was captured on 7 December. An interim government was declared. ### 2002 #### Peacekeepers In 2001, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) created the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), backed by the United Nations (UN). Their initial role was to secure Kabul, the Afghan capital. By April 2002 there were 1,700 British soldiers working alongside other Nato allies. ### 2003 #### Reconstruction In 2003 the UK deployed Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) in the north of Afghanistan. By March 2004 the British also provided the bulk of a Quick Reaction Force based at Mazar-e-Sharif. But the security situation was deteriorating. ### 2004 #### Insurgency A reorganised Taleban began copying the terror tactics of Iraqi insurgents. In January 2004, Private Jonathan Kitulagoda became the first British soldier killed in a combat role when a suicide bomber detonated his device next to his vehicle. ### 2006 #### Helmand In April 2006, the British redeployed in strength, focusing on Helmand Province in the south. Over 3,000 troops were sent to help with reconstruction efforts. They operated out of Camp Bastion, a specially built base in the desert near the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. But operations were far more intense than expected, and British soldiers were drawn into heavy firefights in towns like Musa Qala and Sangin. ![Map of Helmand Province, 2004](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-06/nam_maps_m4-01.jpg) Map of Helmand Province, 2004 ### 2009 #### Security The British launched Operation Panther’s Claw, a major operation to provide security for the 2009 presidential election. Britain led the operation, which secured canal and river crossings in Helmand around Lashkar Gah. 2009 would be Britain’s bloodiest year in Afghanistan, with 109 deaths. ### 2010 #### Surge The British participated in the largest joint offensive to date in Helmand. Over 15,000 allied and Afghan troops attacked Marjah, a town which was controlled by the Taleban and by drug traffickers. ### 2011 #### Timetable On 2 May 2011, US Special Forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. On 6 July, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the withdrawal of 500 British troops, cutting total numbers to 9,000 by September 2012. He also signalled his intention to end all British combat missions in Afghanistan by December 2014. ### 2014 #### Withdrawal The British combat mission ended with the handover of Camp Bastion to Afghan forces on 26 October 2014. Some British troops remained in Afghanistan in training and advisory roles based in Kabul and Helmand. ### 2021 #### Return of the Taleban All international forces, including the last of these British soldiers, left Afghanistan following the Taleban's return to power. ![Soldiers on the final leg of their flight to Afghanistan, 2010](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/slice_lg/public/2017-02/163492_slice.jpg.webp?itok=j6bZQxTL) Soldiers on the final leg of their flight to Afghanistan, 2010 ## Escalation The war in Afghanistan sucked in enormous resources. What was planned as a short-term reconstruction mission turned into a full-blown war. At its peak, there were 137 UK bases and around 9,500 British troops in Helmand Province alone. Camp Bastion grew to the size of Reading. Its perimeter wall was more than 20 miles long. Its 2.2-mile runway was used to ferry troops and supplies in and out - along with casualties. At the height of the fighting, there were more than 600 flights a day. ## Legacy The legacy of the British campaign is harder to determine. British strategy was never clear. Operations to clear the towns of Helmand of insurgents were mixed with the efforts of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams to develop Helmand’s economic infrastructure. Schools, hospitals, roads, reservoirs and power generation aimed to help the Afghans become economically invested in stability. Agricultural projects also became a priority in order to persuade farmers to grow alternatives to opium. But the fighting remained heavy, despite large-scale operations designed to drive the insurgents out of Helmand. Public opinion in the UK increasingly turned against the war. The British began to invest heavily in the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, so that they would take more responsibility for the security situation in Helmand and the country as a whole. But what was the result? ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/themes/custom/nam_2025/src/icons/quotation-mark-left--khaki.svg) > ‘Britain has played a huge and honourable role in trying to do everything we can to give Afghanistan the chance of stability and security, and to make sure that it never again is a haven for terror. I know that the real long-term answer for Afghanistan is not simply security and stability and peace with its neighbours, but the real answer for Afghanistan is prosperity and growth and jobs and investment and wealth. That is absolutely key to the future of the country.’ > > Prime Minister David Cameron — March 2013 ![Repatriation service for Lt John Thornton and Marine Dave Marsh, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 3 April 2008](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/slice_lg/public/2017-01/184969_slice.jpg.webp?itok=YYGaHMot) Repatriation service at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 2008 ## Cost The war in Afghanistan cost the lives of 454 British servicemen and women, exceeding the death toll of the [Falklands War](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/british-army-and-falklands-war) in 1982. Total deaths of coalition forces (Britain, USA and allies) totalled 3,486. A further estimated 2,000 British military and civilian personnel were wounded in action. ![Replica Improvised Explosive Device made from a plastic bottle, 2013](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2017-01/141728_full.jpg) Improvised Explosive Device made from a plastic bottle, 2013 ## IEDs Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) were a constant threat to troops in Afghanistan. They killed 224 British soldiers, accounting for almost half of all British deaths there. IEDs were made from a variety of ordinary materials that were hard to detect. As a result, they were particularly deadly to soldiers on foot patrol and transport convoys. Towards the end of the war, British personnel were responsible for training Afghan troops to locate and render IEDs safe. Replica weapons, like the bottle above, were used in training tasks to help Afghan disposal teams develop their abilities. ![A haul of insurgent weapons, IEDs and equipment uncovered in 2006 ](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2017-02/110981_half.jpg) A haul of insurgent weapons and IEDs uncovered in 2006 ![An Arms and Explosives search dog used for detection of IEDs in Afghanistan, 2006](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2017-02/102228_half.jpg) A search dog used for detecting IEDs in Afghanistan, 2006 ## Recognition In 2002, the British Army introduced an Operational Service Medal for personnel who had served in Afghanistan from 2001 onwards. It continued to be awarded after 2014 to troops advising and mentoring in Helmand and elsewhere. The last of these soldiers - alongside others engaged in protection duties - stayed on until 2021, when all international forces left Afghanistan following the Taleban’s return to power. ![Operational Service Medal, awarded to British forces for service in Afghanistan. ](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2017-01/148235_full.jpg) Operational Service Medal, awarded to British forces for service in Afghanistan Explore further ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/related_mobile/public/2019-04/101607_slice.jpg.webp?itok=6NO1V7Jr) Story ### [Iraq War: The invasion](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/iraq-war-invasion) In March 2003, British troops took part in a coalition invasion of Iraq. After a month of combat operations, they overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime and occupied the country. ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/related_mobile/public/2019-04/208801-slice.jpg.webp?itok=jbBSKJTo) Story ### [Iraq War: The counter-insurgency](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/iraq-war-counter-insurgency) Between 2003 and 2009, British troops in Iraq were engaged in a counter-insurgency war. They also helped train local security units, assisted with reconstruction and provided humanitarian aid. ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/related_mobile/public/2019-07/9410_half.jpg.webp?itok=bp_POQ3X) story ### [First Afghan War](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/first-afghan-war) Between 1839 and 1842, British imperial forces fought a bitter war in Afghanistan. Initially successful, the British eventually withdrew having suffered one of the worst military disasters of the 19th century. ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/related_mobile/public/2019-08/130458_half.jpg.webp?itok=_4-6kKds) story ### [Second Afghan War](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/second-afghan-war) Between 1878 and 1880, British-Indian forces fought a war to ensure that Afghanistan remained free from Russian interference. Although eventually successful, the British suffered several setbacks in their struggle to control the volatile country. ![](https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/related_mobile/public/2019-01/98812_half_0.jpg.webp?itok=X2v_hsKW) Story ### [Third Afghan War and the Revolt in Waziristan](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/third-afghan-war-and-revolt-waziristan) In May 1919, conflict broke out between British India and Afghanistan. Although peace was quickly agreed, the violence spread to the North West Frontier, challenging British control of that region.
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