Around 8,000 British troops in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, will be placed under the operational command of the United States, it has been announced.
As part of a restructuring plan, command and control in southern Afghanistan will be split into two areas, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Command will be rotated between US and UK forces under the new structure.
The first commander in Helmand will be Major General Richard Mills of the US Marine Corps.
