UK troops destroy al-Qaeda caves

The Royal Marines have not faced direct combat

British Royal Marines have destroyed al-Qaeda bunkers and cave complexes in the mountains of south-eastern Afghanistan.

About 500 marines have gone into action with allied US and Afghan troops, to track down any residual Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters in a former valley stronghold.

So far the marines have not found any rebel fighters - confirming suspicions that many have fled across the nearby border to Pakistan.

Click here to see the marines' kit

The troops have, however, come across many bodies of dead Taleban and al-Qaeda members.

And they have seized a "great deal" of papers, maps and radios, which were being studied for intelligence information.

The area being swept was targeted by American troops in Operation Anaconda last month - an offensive in which the US said eight of its own and "hundreds" of the enemy were killed.

It is littered with landmines and the debris of war, including the wreckage of a downed American Chinook helicopter.

The enemy has been here, but he has scarpered. Our job is to make sure he can't come back

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Chicken

The marines believe the valley, known as Ginger Valley, is a "rat line" through which rebel fighters transport supplies from Pakistan, and hide out in a multitude of caves.

Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Paul Harradine said there were signs some rebel fighters had returned to the area since Anaconda.

"Some of the bits and pieces they found were booby-trapped, which obviously has happened since."

The marines have also destroyed thousands of rounds of ammunition and what they described as "freshly used" mortar positions.

Intelligence gathering

Colonel Harradine has described the operation - the first full combat role for the marines since the Falklands - as "difficult", but said it was going well, with no allied casualties sustained so far.

Operation commander Lieutenant Colonel Tim Chicken said the marines had been coping "fine" so far with their aim of stopping al-Qaeda functioning in the area.

The terrain is rough, and vast

"We're pushing through here carefully, making sure all these bunkers and caves can never be used by the enemy again. We haven't made contact with the enemy as yet, but we do expect to.

"The enemy has been here, but he has scarpered. Our job is to make sure he can't come back and then see where he is."

Allied forces have swept parts of the valley several times since Anaconda, but coalition leaders said there was still intelligence worth gathering.

However, at least one marine was disappointed he had not confronted the enemy so far.

"It would be a shame to come all this way and not have any contact - all the lads have trained for it," said Andrew Robertson, 24, from Glasgow.

'Very tough'

BBC correspondent Jonathan Charles spent 24 hours in the combat zone with the troops, and described the harsh conditions the marines were dealing with.

He said: "It's very tough up there, no doubt about it. They're operating at 10,000ft above sea level which makes breathing very difficult."

He said the 63kg (138lb) flak jackets and packs the men were carrying posed another problem, as did the landmines, the rough terrain and freezing temperatures.

US officials have expressed fears that rebels who escaped Anaconda would return as spring arrived, to launch fresh guerrilla attacks.

A further 130 marines have left their base at Arbroath to join their colleagues from 45 Commando in the full combat operation, which began on Saturday.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told the marines ahead of their departure that al-Qaeda still posed a "real threat" to the people of the UK and their families.

"You will have a serious job to do - to make Afghanistan a safe place for the future and to eliminate the threat there," he said.

He spoke to the troops at the Air Monitoring Station near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, hours before they were due to fly from RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire.

"If they can strike in New York or Washington, they can strike here and they can strike at our families," he warned.

Afterwards the defence secretary said it was impossible to say how long the marines would be in Afghanistan but planning was for "months" not years.

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