British Royal Marines In Operation Ptarmigan

404042 07: British Royal Marine Commandos rest in their fighting position along a ridge line during Operation Ptarmigan April 17, 2002 in Eastern Afghanistans Ginger Valley. About 500 British marines have gone into action with allied U.S. and Afghan troops to track down any residual Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in the former valley stronghold near the Pakistan border close to where Operation Anaconda was conducted. In Britains biggest combat deployment since the 1991 Gulf War, the marines are operating in some of the worlds toughest terrain. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)