NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
17 Feb 08. Iraq: OP TELIC. From 1 Jan 06 to 31 Jan 08, 296 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 1,330 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 20 Feb 08.) From 16 to 31 Jan 08, the figures were one and 10.
“The drawdown of troops continues as planned and we are looking at ways to reduce our requirement for military logistics support.” “….the UK is now mainly operating in support of the Iraqi forces in the Contingency Operating Base.” “We are currently working on OP ARCHIVE, which involves emptying theatre of kit we don’t need and we are making full use of our Ro-Ro shipping to achieve this”. (DE&S News, February 2008.)
The UK does not collate figures for the number of civilians killed in Iraq. (Ministerial Answer (MA), 18 Feb 08.)
In the 12 months from January to December 2007 there were 406 attacks on UK forces stationed at Basrah Air Base, 400 of which were by rocket. (MA, 18 Feb 08.)
Comment: The Defence Committee published a Report on ‘UK Land Operations in Iraq’ on 3 Dec 07. The Government’s Response to the Report was published on 21 Feb 08, as HC 352 for £4:50. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0809, 24 Feb 08)
17 Feb 08. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. A Corporal from 2nd Bn The Yorkshire Regt was killed on 17 Feb 08 in Helmand Province when he was caught in an explosion during a foot patrol. A Corporal from 40 Commando, Royal Marines, was killed on 20 Feb 08 in Helmand Province during a clearance patrol. UK deaths since the start of Operations in October 2001 thus rose to 89, of whom 59 have been classified as Killed in Action and four as Died of Wounds sustained in action. (MoD, 20 Feb 08.)
From 1 Jan 06 to 31 Jan 08, 329 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 865 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 20 Feb 08.) From 16 to 31 Jan 08, the figures were 10 and 21.
“We are now planning in detail how this Operation can best be sustained in the long-term….” “And in January we had a very useful bi-lateral meeting with our French colleagues about how we can better deliver NATO logistics capability to Afghanistan now and in the future.” “….the heavy snow and rain is impacting on Operations.” (DE&S News, February 2008.)
A comprehensive UK approach in support of the Afghan Government involving the MoD, FCO and DfID is in place. The Afghan National Army will ultimately become responsible for the Country’s security. (MA, 18 Feb 08.)
The Defence Medical Services deploys small numbers of civilian medical staff on Operations in specialities where there are currently shortfalls. (MA, 18 Feb 08.)
The Operational Plan stipulates that military personnel will not be involved in the eradication of poppy.
(MA, 18 Feb 08.)
Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards are working with the Afghan National Police in Kabul to patrol areas around the city. (MoD, 21 Feb 08.)
60 British personnel make up the UK Liaison Training Team based at Camp Alamo in Kabul. The Team has three wings: Basic Training, Officer Training and Senior NCO Training. (MoD, 22 Feb 08.)
Comment: There are now 40 nations contributing to ISAF, 26 from NATO and 14 non-NATO. Contributions from Jordan and Singapore have raised the number of countries from 38. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0809, 24 Feb 08)
17 Feb 08. Kosovo: Independence. Following Kosovo’s declaration of independence on 17 Feb 08, NATO reaffirmed that KFOR would remain in the Country on the basis of UNSCR 1244. The Foreign Secretary said (19 Feb 08) that the UK had decided to recognise Kosovo’s independence and to establish diplomatic relations.
The UK is to second approximately 70 personnel to the ESDP mission and about 10 to the International Civilian Office. The Foreign Secretary also confirmed that the UK’s contribution to KFOR would be maintained while keeping a Battalion on stand-by as part of NATO’s Reserve Force.
The FCO announced (20 Feb 08) that the British Office in Pristina was now the British Embassy and that the Head of th