LONDON (Islamweb & News Agencies) - Up to 100 British commandos have flown into Bagram airbase north of the Afghan capital Kabul, defense sources said Thursday.The sources said the Royal Marines were checking out the base's facilities and paving the way for humanitarian operations in an area which is now in the hands of the opposition Northern Alliance.
``They did not have to fight their way in,'' said one defense source.
The British soldiers were drawn from forces retained in the area after Operation Swift Sword, a major military exercise staged in Oman.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair had put British troops on standby to be rushed to Afghanistan to secure airports and aid routes after Northern Alliance troops swept the Taliban from great swaths of the country.
International Development Minister Clare Short stressed on Thursday the need to move swiftly.
France said Thursday it would send troops to northern Afghanistan ``in a matter of days'' as part of an international aid and reconstruction mission to the country.
Blair said this week he could not rule out that British troops could play a ``front-line offensive'' role in Afghanistan.
But he stressed, ``The main purpose of these troops would be in the context of multinational efforts to make safe the humanitarian supply routes now opening up as a result of military progress.''
Royal Marine commandos and Parachute Regiment units are among those on reduced notice. Royal Air Force transport helicopters, mine clearers and a contingent of Royal Engineers could also be called upon to support operations.
Those forces are in addition to the 4,200 personnel who were readied for action last month.
Any British troops would remain in place for a strictly limited period while an international force was organized under U.N. auspices, Blair has said.