英国军队撤离阿富汗桑金地区

UK troops are marking the end of their mission in the Sangin area of Afghanistan's Helmand province.

英国军队结束了在阿富汗赫尔曼德省桑金地区的军事任务。

A third of the UK's military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 have been in Sangin

Control of the area was formally handed over from UK forces to the US Marine Corps at 0630 BST.

The UK has suffered its heaviest losses in the Sangin area. Of the 337 UK deaths in Afghanistan since 2001, a third have happened there.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox announced in July that the troops were to be replaced by US forces.

The UK military has previously insisted the move is a redeployment（调换，调动） , now there are more US troops on the ground.

The UK mission in Sangin began in 2006.

Speaking in July, Dr Fox told MPs UK forces had made "good progress" in Sangin, but the move would enable Britain to provide "more manpower and greater focus" on Helmand's busy central belt, leaving the north and south to the US.

About 300 logistic and security troops - from the Theatre Reserve Battalion stationed in Cyprus - would be sent to Helmand to help with the redeployment, he said.