Downing Street has rebuked US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth after he suggested that most non-American soldiers in Afghanistan did not take part in direct fighting, with a spokesman calling the remarks "wrong" and a diminishing of the role of British and allied forces.
In a speech on Saturday, Mr Hegseth said that while 50 flags flew at the headquarters in Kabul, representing the countries contributing to the Nato alliance and the ISAF mission, only a few were actually involved in combat operations. He recalled a joke among troops that ISAF stood for "I Saw Americans Fighting".
Downing Street defends UK and allied sacrifice
Responding on Monday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Frankly, the facts speak for themselves when it comes to the UK's and Nato's contribution to Afghanistan, thousands of British and allied families made huge sacrifices to play their significant parts in that war and uphold our values."
The spokesman added that more than 450 British personnel never returned, and that their sacrifice was made in the service of collective security and in response to an attack on an ally. "It is wrong to diminish their role," he said.
Previous dispute with President Trump
The rebuke follows a similar row earlier this year, when then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded furiously to President Donald Trump's claim that NATO allies "stayed a little back, off the front line" in Afghanistan.
Mr Starmer said at the time: "I consider President Trump's remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling and I am not surprised they have caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured and, in fact, across the country."
President Trump later rowed back in a Truth Social post, praising the UK military's sacrifice in Afghanistan, where 457 died, and describing them as "among the greatest of all warriors".
Previous criticism of UK forces
The latest comments come after grieving relatives of British troops killed in action criticised JD Vance over his "unbelievably offensive" remarks about the UK military's recent past, with the Vice President accused of belittling a proposed peace-keeping force in Ukraine.
