Central Afghanistan News

A Ministry of Defence decision to base drones in the UK for the first time has been met with hostility by protesters. The spy planes are now based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

Several protest groups will be marching against the decision by walking from Lincoln station to the main gate at RAF Waddington today.

• Politics
• Ministry of Defence
• Afghanistan

Ahead of a planned protest outside an RAF base today against the UK's use of armed drones in Afghanistan, War on Want senior campaigns officer Rafeef Ziadah said:

Drones, controlled far away from conflict zones, ease politicians' decisions to launch military strikes and order extrajudicial assassinations, without democratic oversight or accountability to the public.

"Now is the time to ban killer drones - before it is too late.

• UK
• MoD
• Afghanistan

Drone missions over Afghanistan have been flown by RAF pilots operating on British soil for the first time.

Until this week, RAF crews who control armed drones in Afghanistan have been operating from the USA Creech Air Force Base in Nevada.

Last year the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that the UK was doubling the number of armed RAF drones in Afghanistan to 10 with the five new aircraft to be operated remotely from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

• Politics
• Ministry of Defence
• Afghanistan

The Ministry of Defence has defended its use of drones in Afghanistan, which it says have saved the lives of countless military personnel and civilians.

UK Reaper aircraft are piloted by highly trained professional military pilots who adhere strictly to the same laws of armed conflict and are bound by the same clearly defined rules of engagement which apply to traditionally manned RAF aircraft.

• UK
• MoD
• Drones

Anti-war protesters are set to gather outside an RAF base today to voice their opposition to the UK's use of armed drones in Afghanistan.

Members of the Stop The War Coalition, CND, The Drone Campaign Network and War on Want will march from Lincoln to nearby RAF Waddington.

The RAF began remotely operating its Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles deployed to Afghanistan from the Lincolnshire airbase earlier this week.

In a statement, the RAF said it had started supporting the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan ground troops with "armed intelligence and surveillance missions" remotely piloted from RAF Waddington.

The aircraft were previously operated from a United States Air Force base in Nevada.

• UK
• RAF
• Afghanistan

Several protest groups are planning to march against the UK's new centre for drone planes at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire today.

The RAF is doubling its number of armed Reaper Drones in Afghanistan and has started operating them for the first time from a new facility near Lincoln.

• Politics
• Ministry of Defence
• Afghanistan

One of the army's military dog units based here in the Midlands is about to head off to Helmand Province for a six-month tour of duty.

The war in Afghanistan has cost many lives, but it could have cost even more if it wasn't for Man's Best Friend.

Dogs play a key role on the frontline, sniffing out explosives and keeping British soldiers safe from attack.

• UK
• Afghanistan
• Luffenham