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EUROPE
01 Oct 09. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. A Private from 2nd Bn The Royal Welsh was killed as a result of an explosion in Musa Qaleh District on
27 Sep 09. A Senior Aircraftman from 34 Sqn RAF Regiment was killed as a result of an explosion near to Camp Bastion on 1 Oct 09. UK deaths since the start of Operations in October 2001 thus rose to 219, of whom 188 were killed as a result of hostile action. (MoD, 1 Oct 09.)
The short-notice tour of part of 4th Bn The Rifles has been extended by two months from 30 Sep 09.
(RHQ, RIFLES.)
In a radio interview the Defence Secretary said that there were “some difficult decisions to take over the next few months”. (Today programme, 1 Oct 09.)
“We have more high quality protected vehicles for Afghanistan than ever before and 150 more will be delivered before Christmas.” (MoD, 1 Oct 09.)
Almost 500 soldiers, including members of 3rd Bn The Royal Regiment of Scotland and Canadian explosives experts, launched an assault on an insurgent stronghold in Zhari District on 14 Sep 09. (MoD, 1 Oct 09.)
Troops from 2nd Bn The Rifles destroyed millions of pounds worth of drugs during an assault in Ghorak District on 16 Sep 09. (MoD, 2 Oct 09.)
Comment: US General S A McChrystal, Commanding the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), spoke at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on 1 Oct 09. The theme of the General’s speech was that it was up to the Afghans to defeat the insurgents in their Country. Success was possible in Afghanistan but the fight had to be redefined. A copy of the General’s speech is available to subscribers, on request. 42 Countries continue to contribute to ISAF, although adjustments have been made to the numbers from the US and 23 other nations. A revised list of Troop Contributing Nations (TCN), indicating an overall increase of 3,200 personnel.
AFGHANISTAN: INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE (ISAF)
TROOP CONTRIBUTING NATIONS (TCN) AS AT 1 OCT 09
United States 31,855
Lithuania 250
United Kingdom 9,000
Slovakia 240
Germany 4,245
New Zealand 220
France 3,070
Macedonia 185
Canada 2,830
Latvia 165
Italy 2,795
Estonia 150
Netherlands 2,160
Finland 130
Poland 2,025
Greece 125
Australia 1,200
Portugal 105
Spain 1,000
Azerbaijan 90
Romania 990
Slovenia 80
Turkey 820
UAE 25
Denmark 700
Ukraine 10
Norway 600
Iceland 8
Belgium 510
Luxembourg 8
Bulgaria 460
Ireland 7
Sweden 430
Jordan 7
Czech Republic 340
Austria 4
Hungary 310
Bosnia-
Herzegovina 2
Croatia 290
Singapore 2
Albania 250
Georgia 1
TOTAL 67,694
(Source: ISAF.) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/37, 05 Oct 09)
01 Oct 09. BAE Systems: Possible Prosecution. The serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced (1 Oct 09) “that it intends to seek the Attorney Gene