STORY
Downing Street has rejected US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments about allied troops in Afghanistan, calling his remarks “wrong”. The response on Monday followed his suggestion that few countries participating in the international mission had contributed to combat operations.
Speaking at the University of Tennessee on Saturday, Hegseth recalled seeing around 50 national flags at the mission’s headquarters in Kabul. He claimed that only “maybe five” countries contributed, with “one or two” involved in combat operations towards the end. He also recalled joking that ISAF, the International Security Assistance Force, meant “I Saw Americans Fighting”.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson highlighted the sacrifices of British and allied families, noting that more than 450 British personnel died. Downing Street said their service supported collective security following an attack on an ally, adding that “it is wrong to diminish their role”.