NEW SAS SQUAD SENT IN TO TACKLE TALIBAN

DOZENS more special forces troops are being sent to Afghanistan to tackle the resurgent Taliban and Islamic State.

They will bolster security for the regular force in the war-torn country as a further 490 soldiers are deployed to join almost 650 already there. A security source said: “The resurgence of the Taliban and the fact that Islamic State is now a significant threat needed to be addressed.

“Rather than have a full-on military confrontation from British troops against the threats, there is a far less publicised war going on involving US and UK special operations troops.

“They are attacking the networks and those who influence it without attracting attention or making this a full-on jihad for the rebel fighters.”

As many as 456 British military personnel were killed in Afghanistan from after the 9/11 attacks to 2014. Since UK troops withdrew from Camp Bastion in Helmand, chiefs were determined not to draw the Taliban into further conflict.

But NATO agreed that Britain and other countries would supply soldiers to help train Afghan troops and police.

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment.