British Forces casualties in Afghanistan since 2001

The United Kingdom was one of the first countries which took part in Operation Enduring Freedom to topple the Taliban regime in autumn 2001.

As of 24 July 2015 there has been a total of 454 fatalities of British Forces personnel including Ministry of Defence (MoD) civilians. The vast majority of fatalities have taken place since the redeployment of British forces to the Taliban stronghold of Helmand province, as prior to deployment in this area only five men died between April 2002 and early March 2006.

In all, 404 of the fatalities are classed as killed "as a result of hostile action" and 49 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, or have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death pending the outcome of an investigation. The Army has seen the heaviest losses, with 362 fatalities as of 1 May 2013. Typically those killed were aged between 20 and 29 and the biggest losses seen in 2009 and 2010. Of those killed, 439 were male and three were female.

For the period 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2013 centrally available records show that:

In February 2010, the British death toll in Afghanistan exceeded that of the Falklands War.

See Operation Herrick and Operation Veritas.

The first three British casualties were non-hostile deaths in Kabul, from suicide, accidental weapons discharge and homicide.

During 2002, Private Darren John George, aged 23, from the Royal Anglian Regiment, was killed by a ricocheting bullet fired by a comrade who had a dizzy spell.

During August 2002, Sergeant Robert Busuttil, aged 30, from the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) and Corporal John Gregory, aged 30, from the RLC. Despite orders rationing beer to just two small cans a day to help prevent such events occurring, Corporal Gregory became involved in a drunken fight with Sergeant Busuttil at a barbecue. Gregory then left the barbecue and returned with a loaded SA80 rifle and killed Busuttil, firing the rifle at him 'up to ten times'. Gregory then committed suicide with the weapon. The Army was subsequently criticised by Wiltshire coroner David Masters when he recorded verdicts of unlawful killing on the death of Sergeant Busuttil and suicide on Corporal Gregory.

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