Last British troops in Afghanistan arrive at Brize Norton

The final UK troops and diplomatic staff were airlifted from Kabul on Saturday, drawing to a close Britain's 20-year engagement in Afghanistan and a two-week operation to rescue UK nationals and Afghan allies. 

An RAF plane left Kabul at 9.25pm on Saturday and arrived at RAF Brize Norton, near Carterton, early on Sunday morning. A C-17 transport aircraft also arrived at the base, on the edge of Carterton, yesterday carrying cargo.

More aircraft could also land at the base today.

The arrival of the military personnel at Brize Norton follows the final flight dedicated to the evacuation effort, which left Kabul on Friday.

The British ambassador to Afghanistan, Sir Laurie Bristow, also arrived in the UK over the weekend, alongside the last of the British soldiers on Sunday.

The ambassador arrived on a Voyager aircraft with about 250 personnel, including members of 16 Air Assault Brigade who were stationed at Kabul airport.

The plane flew in from Al Minhad airfield in the United Arab Emirates near Dubai, through which the UK’s evacuation flights have been directed.

Mr Bristow had stayed in Kabul after the Taliban took over the capital, to help process those fleeing the country at the airport.

Speaking at Brize Norton, Vice-Admiral Ben Key, Chief of Joint Operations, who commands Operation Pitting, said: “Although the United Kingdom’s Operation Pitting finishes today, of course, the United States are still engaged in their own withdrawal and I would be very nervous in saying we had completed a successful withdrawal from Afghanistan until all our allies and partners have returned.
 

The final UK troops and diplomatic staff were airlifted from Kabul on Saturday, drawing to a close Britain's 20-year engagement in Afghanistan and a two-week operation to rescue UK nationals and Afghan allies

“The United States has provided the framework for security in Kabul as part of a huge international effort and so operations continue even if the UK’s particular contribution concludes today.”
On the fact that not everyone eligible for evacuation from Kabul could be rescued, he said: “That is both true and a matter of great sadness for all of us that have been involved in this.

The final UK troops and diplomatic staff were airlifted from Kabul on Saturday, drawing to a close Britain's 20-year engagement in Afghanistan and a two-week operation to rescue UK nationals and Afghan allies

“Whilst we recognise and I pay testament to the achievement of everything that has been achieved by coalition forces, but particularly the British contingent, over the last two weeks, in the end we know that there are some really sad stories of people who have desperately tried to leave that we have – no matter how hard our efforts – we have been unsuccessful in evacuating.”