for Great Britain , told CNN in an exclusive interview . But earlier , he pointed out , at the same time the 15 British troops had been killed , at least 197 Taliban forces had been confirmed killed in fighting . Watch questions being asked about the sacrifices '' `` These casualties are pretty one-sided . Sad though our losses are , they are very small compared to the losses that the enemy is taking , '' he said in an interview at the British Embassy . Stirrup , whose position is equivalent to Adm. Michael Mullen , the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff , said the government wants people to know that the sacrifices are worth it . `` This is a military operation and on military operations , you engage in fighting . That 's why we have militaries and , sadly , you take casualties . The real issue is , first of all , are we getting something of sufficient strategic benefit to justify the price that our people are paying ? '' he said . `` Secondly , are we doing everything we can to ensure that we achieve that strategic
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- July is on track to be the deadliest month yet for British troops supporting Operation Enduring Freedom . Air Chief Marshall Jock Stirrup says the sacrifices of British forces are worth it . So far , 15 British servicemen have died in Afghanistan this month , mostly in connection with Operation Panther 's Claw , the British-led offensive in Helmand province that is mirroring a similar operation by U.S. Marines in the same area . Britain 's deadliest month in Afghanistan so far has been September 2006 , when 19 died -- 14 in a single incident , the crash of a Royal Air Force plane near Kandahar . The sudden spike in British deaths has triggered an outcry in the United Kingdom over the mission there and whether it will be successful . `` Every casualty is sad , every casualty is deeply felt by us in the military . I mean , they are part of our military family . The losses , of course , are felt most by the real families of those involved and the bereavement is terrible , '' Air Chief Marshall Jock Stirrup , the chief of defense staff