LONDON, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- An additional 1,500 British troops are headed to Afghanistan, bringing its total military force there to about 7,000, it was reported Saturday.
British defense sources told the Times of London the decision to send more troops to Afghanistan came after other NATO members failed to answer the call for more soldiers issued by Gen. Bantz Craddock, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
"We felt we couldn't wait any longer because it would risk unraveling all the achievements we have been making in the south, so we have offered another battle group," a source told the Times.
Sources said there was no connection between the pullout of 1,600 British troops from Iraq and the Afghanistan deployment.
"It's really a coincidence. We have been forced to send more troops to Afghanistan because we feel it's vital to maintain the progress we are already making," a source told the newspaper.
