NEWS IN BRIEF
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EUROPE
03 Apr 09. Iraq: OP TELIC. From 1 Jan 06 to 15 Mar 09, 315 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 1,835 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 3 Apr 09.) From 1 to 15 Mar 09 the figures were nil and 18.
“A significant level of effort has assured a successful transfer of responsibilities to US Forces….” (RAF Update, 29 Mar 09.)
Of the 4,100 members of the UK Armed Forces deployed on land in Southern Iraq for OP TELIC 13, just under 200 are members of the Royal Navy. (Ministerial Answer (MA), 30 Mar 09.)
The draw-down of combat troops will start on 31 May 09 and be completed by 31 Jul 09. From 31 Jul 09 the UK will retain up to 400 troops for training and mentoring their Iraqi counterparts. (MA, 31 Mar 09.)
In a change of Coalition command structures, MND South East and MND Centre were merged on 31 Mar 09 to form MND South. (Defence Secretary, 31 Mar 09.)
Major General A Salmon (UK) handed over as GOC MND South East to Major General M Oates (US), who assumed command of the newly-formed MND South on 31 Mar 09. (MoD, 1 Apr 09.)
Four private security companies are currently operating under FCO contracts: ArmorGroup, Control Risks, Garda World and Minimal Risks. (MA, 1 Apr 09.)
Comment: MoD and media commentary on the change of command and the return of General Salmon’s Headquarters to the UK varied considerably. While the MoD and its Senior Officers were busy congratulating all and sundry, editorial comments included references to “a damaging and discredited enterprise” and “probably the most unpopular expedition since the 1956 Suez War”. ‘The Spectator’ (4 Apr 09) had one of the better headlines: ‘Lions led by Labour donkeys’. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/15, 06 Apr 09)
03 Apr 09. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. From 1 Jan 06 to 15 Mar 09, 610 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 1,820 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 3 Apr 09.) From 1 to 15 Mar 09 the figures were 11 and 47.
The endorsed size of the Force committed to OP HERRICK 9 is just over 8,000. The number has been temporarily increased to around 8,300, of which over 2,000 are drawn from the Royal Navy/Royal Marines. The overall figure will decrease as 19 Light Brigade replaces 3 Commando Brigade. (MA, 30 Mar 09.)
“Progress has been made but the insurgency remains resilient.” (MA, 30 Mar 09.)
“We have not yet received any request from anyone to supplement existing levels of UK Forces in Afghanistan….” (Defence Secretary, 30 Mar 09.)
“We are lucky and fortunate to have those allies [the Danes and the Estonians] in Helmand, but we could do with more.” (Defence Secretary, 30 Mar 09.)
“The key political focus for Afghanistan in 2009 is the Presidential and Provincial Council elections which will take place on 20 Aug 09.” (MA, 31 Mar 09.)
The majority of 1st Bn The Rifles returned to the UK on 2 Apr 09. Eight soldiers from the 1 RIFLES Battle Group were killed during the tour. (MoD, 3 Apr 09.)
Comment: Against the background of the NATO Summit (Item 3) and the withdrawal from Iraq (Item 1), diffe