**About 8,000 British troops based in Helmand Province in Afghanistan are to come under the operational command of the US, the Ministry of Defence says.**The move is part of a restructuring of Nato forces, with command and control in southern Afghanistan split into two.
UK forces currently take orders from British Major General Nick Carter, in charge of operations in the south.
Gen Carter will now oversee Kandahar while the US will take on Helmand.
The first Helmand commander will be Major General Richard Mills of the US Marine Corps.
The UK force level in Afghanistan is currently 9,500, but with special forces totals some 10,000.This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
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