NEWS IN BRIEF
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EUROPE
18 May 09. Iraq: OP TELIC. From 1 Jan 06 to 30 Apr 09, 315 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 1,899 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 18 May 09.) From 16 to 30 Apr 09 the figures were nil and 19.
£240m was spent on charter flights to Iraq between April 2003 and March 2009. (Ministerial Answer(MA), 18 May 09.)
The last Infantry soldiers to serve in Iraq, part of C Company, 1st Bn The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, returned to their barracks in Paderborn on 16 May 09. (MoD, 19 May 09.)
The UK has spent £744m on reconstruction, development and aid to Iraq since 2003. (MA, 20 May 09.)
The last combat troops to leave Basrah, from 15 Squadron, RAF Regiment, returned to RAF Honington on
27 May 09. (MoD, 27 May 09.)
“The UK military mission in Basrah is complete”. (MoD, 27 May 09.)
MV Eddystone left Shuaiba for Marchwood Military Port on 25 May 09, the seventh such tasking for a MoD chartered Ro-Ro. Several more similar voyages are expected before 1 Jul 09. (MoD, 29 May 09.)
Comment: Commenting on the ending of the UK military mission in Basrah the Defence Secretary said
(27 May 09) that a “heavy price” had been paid, with 178 members of the Armed Forces and one Defence civilian having died during OP TELIC. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 10/20, 01 June 09)
28 May 09. Afghanistan: OP HERRIC. A Fusilier (i.e. Private) from 2nd Bn The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was killed while on a foot patrol near Sangin on 22 May 09. A Sapper (i.e. Private) from 38 Engineer Regiment was killed following an explosion near Sangin on 23 May 09. A Lance Corporal from the Armoured Support Group, Royal Marines, died on 27 May 09 from wounds sustained in Helmand five days earlier. A Lance Corporal from 2nd Bn The Mercian Regiment was killed following an explosion near Garmsir on 28 May 09. UK deaths since the start of Operations in October 2001 thus rose to 163, of whom 134 were killed as a result of hostile action. (MoD, 28 May 09.)
From 1 Jan 06 to 30 Apr 09, 626 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 1,941 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 18 May 09.) From 16 to 30 Apr 09 the figures were seven and 42.
£226m was spent on charter flights to Afghanistan between April 2003 and March 2009. (MA, 18 May 09.)
Preparations are in hand for 10,000 US troops of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade to join the 8,300 UK personnel in Helmand. (MoD, 18 May 09.)
“The UK’s strategy for Afghanistan is long-term and based on a comprehensive approach to security, political, social and economic development.” (MA, 19 May 09.)
Between 8 Oct 07 and 14 May 09, 387 Service personnel were admitted as in-patients to UK hospitals due to injuries sustained in Afghanistan. (MA, 20 May 09.)
Comment: An interesting article in the International Herald Tribune (20 May 09) suggested “that munitions procured by the Pentagon have leaked from Afghan Forces for use against US troops”.(Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 10/20, 01 June 09)
20 May 09. Nimrod Aircraft: Progress on Two Progra