British troops ended their combat operations in Afghanistan as they and US Marines handed over two huge adjacent bases to the Afghan military, 13 years after a US-led invasion launched the costly war against the Taliban.

Britain's Prince Harry may have been the primary target of an attack on the Camp Bastion military compound in Afghanistan, it was claimed today.

Two US Marines were killed and several more troops wounded in an attack on the Camp Bastion military compound in Afghanistan.

An Afghan man who crashed a stolen vehicle on to the runway at Camp Bastion as US defence secretary Leon Panetta arrived there has died of his injuries.

US MARINES and Afghan troops yesterday launched the first offensive since US President Barack Obama announced an American troop surge, striking against Taliban communications and supply lines in a southern insurgent stronghold, a military spokesman said.