A detailed and in-depth overview of the war campaign, using the personal experiences of veterans.
On 11 September 2001 19 al-Qaeda inspired jihadists hijacked 4 aircraft to carry out the most deadly terrorist attack ever. This outrage led to a series of events which saw British troops drawn into an extensive military campaign in Afghanistan against a fierce and violent insurgency. In the aftermath of 9/11, NATO invoked Article 5 of Washington Treaty which obligated the United States to provide military support. British troops were deployed to Kabul, Northern Afghanistan and other areas of Afghanistan starting in 2002. The British government initially supported the US invasion into Afghanistan. In January 2006, after NATO expanded southwards to include Afghanistan, Britain sent a Battlegroup of the Parachute Regiment into Helmand Province as part of what was known as Operation Herrick. The hope was that British soldiers could “leave within three years” without ever firing a shot. The reality, however, was quite different. Between 2006 and 2014, British task forces fought in Helmand against a ruthless enemy. British forces suffered 456 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries when they finally retreated in 2014. Taliban would not be defeated, and they will grow even stronger.
Sergio was in Defence Intelligence at Whitehall during the entire campaign. Pride and Fall provides answers to the questions that surround the conflict. This is the story of those who served, based on the open-source material and the first-hand testimony.