We were proud to help during Covid crisis.. but this is our core purpose

Middle East exercise that shows Army's fighting-fit

-  MATTHEW YOUNG

THE British Army was proud to help out during Covid but is now getting back to its "core purpose" as sights turn to Eastern Europe.

Our troops helped set up Nightingale hospitals, delivered vaccines, provided tests and, recently, drove ambulances during strikes.

But more traditional duties are now back at the top of their agenda.

We were granted access this week to a mock assault on an enemy urban area in Exercise Khanjar in Oman the culmination of a four-month deployment.

Soldiers took on what they call a "peer enemy" - an army with similar military capabilities.

Captain Lewis Haigh, of 4th Light Brigade Combat Team, said: "The Army is now getting back to its core purpose. We're training for a range of different things around the world.