NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
19 Jul 07. Iraq: OP TELIC. Three RAF Senior Aircraftsmen were killed on 19 Jul 07 in an indirect fire attack on the Operating Base in Basrah. (MoD, 19 Jul 07.) UK deaths since the start of the Campaign thus rose to 162, of whom 100 have been classified as Killed in Action and 23 as Died of Wounds sustained in action. (MoD, 19 Jul 07.)
From 1 Jan 06 to 30 Jun 07, 236 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 1,030 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 19 Jul 07.) From 16 to 30 Jun 07, the figures were 20 and 39.
Commanders on the ground assess that 5,500 is the right number of troops to discharge the UK’s current responsibilities. (Ministerial Answer (MA), 16 Jul 07.)
“In Baghdad, violence perpetrated by sectarian and insurgent groups remains a serious problem….”.
(MA, 16 Jul 07.)
The net additional costs of Operations in Iraq were estimated as: 2002/03 – £1,000m; 2003/04 – £1,539m; 2004/05 – £975m; 2005/06 – £1,098m and 2006/07 – £1,002m. (MA, 17 Jul 07.)
It would be wrong to set an arbitrary timetable for withdrawing troops. The planned transfer of Basrah Palace to the Iraqi authorities will see UK levels reduced from 5,500 to around 5,000 troops. (MA, 18 Jul 07.)
HMS RICHMOND took over Iraqi oil platform protection duties from HMS CORNWALL on 17 Jul 07.
(MoD, 18 Jul 07.)
The newly appointed Armed Forces’ Minister, the Rt Hon R W Ainsworth MP, paid his first visit to the Services in Basrah on 19 Jul 07. (MoD, 20 Jul 07.)
The Defence Secretary announced (19 Jul 07) the next roulement of UK Forces, due to take place in November/December 2007. The lead formation, 1 Mechanised Brigade, is to be replaced by 4 Mechanised Brigade which is to provide most of the units. Some 420 Reservist call-out notices are expected to be issued, to fill approximately 340 posts.
Comment: A copy of the Defence Secretary’s statement on 19 Jul 07, listing all the units expected to deploy, is available to DNA subscribers on request. (Reports in the specialist journal/s that 7 Armoured Brigade is to deploy to Iraq in October 2007 are incorrect and should be ignored.) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0729, 23 Jul 07)
19 Jul 07. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. From 1 Jan 06 to 30 Jun 07, 203 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 509 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 19 Jul 07.) From 16 to 30 Jun 07, the figures were 20 and 35.
“The Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team has implemented over 130 projects to provide tangible benefits to local Afghans….” (MA, 16 Jul 07.)
Soldiers from 19 Regiment, Royal Artillery are helping to train their opposite numbers in the Afghan National Army. (MoD, 17 Jul 07.)
“The security situation in Afghanistan remains stable, if fragile in places….recent Operations have expanded ISAF influence around Sangin and Gereshk….” (MA, 19 Jul 07.)
The Defence Secretary announced (19 Jul 07) the next roulement of UK Forces, due to take place in October 2007. The lead formation, 12 Mechanised Brigade, is to be replaced by 52 Infantry Brigade which is to provide most of the units. Some 750 Reservist call-out notices are expected to be issued, to fill over 600 posts. The total UK commitment is likely to be around 7,800 troops by the end of 2007.
Comment: A copy of the Defence Secretary’s statement on 19 Jul 07, listing all the units expected to deploy, is available to DNA subscribers on request. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0729, 23 Jul 07)
25 Jul 07. Defence repair site sale ‘insane’. Politicians have voiced their anger after a Canadian company was named as the preferred bidder for a defence repairs site in Perthshire. The SNP said the potential sale of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (Dara) at Almondbank near Perth was “insane”. Vector Aerospace is preferred bidder for the Dara rotary wing and components businesses, which include helicopter repair facilities in Southampton. Local MSP Roseanna Cunningham is now seeking a meeting with the company. S