Afghanistan: Why can't the UK hold Kabul airport without the US?

[papasmurf]

Interesting article but does not tell me anything I did not know already:-

More at link:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-58305185

Afghanistan: Why can't the UK hold Kabul airport without the US?
By Daniel Kraemer
BBC News

Published2 hours ago

One of the main limiting factors for the UK is in the air, according to Nick Reynolds of the Royal United Services Institute think tank.

Protection from fighter jets or helicopters is vital, particularly if the evacuation were to come under attack. The US is currently providing this.

The RAF's limited number of transport aircraft, means the UK does not have the capability "to conduct an effective evacuation by itself, especially not under time pressure", he said.

The UK's smaller military capacity would make going it alone "so difficult as to be unrealistic", Mr Reynolds added.