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EUROPE
07 Jan 11. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. A Fijian Private from 5th Bn The Royal Regiment of Scotland was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) near Saidabad Kalay on 1 Jan 11. UK deaths since the start of Operations on 7 Oct 01 thus rose to 349, of whom 308 were killed as a result of hostile action. (MoD, 1 Jan 11.)
From 1 Jan 06 to 15 Dec 10, 1,566 personnel were Wounded in Action and 4,131 were aeromedically evacuated. From 1 to 15 Dec 10 the figures were 13 and 51. (DASA, 7 Jan 11.)
Families have begun moving back to the settlements of Adamzai, Esserzai and Popalzai following a successful Operation by Afghan and British soldiers. Those involved included members of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment and 2nd Bn The Royal Regiment of Scotland. (MoD, 4 Jan 11)
Soldiers from the British Counter-IED Task Force have completed a course training members of the Afghan National Police as an ‘Explosive Hazard Team’. Additional courses are now planned. (MoD, 4 Jan 11.)
British-trained Afghan National Army troops have been conducting OP OMID PANJ (Hope Five) in Central Helmand since 27 Dec 10. (MoD, 5 Jan 11.)
The Defence Secretary visited British troops (3-6 Jan 11) as well as holding meetings with President Karzai and other Afghan Ministers. Dr Fox was able “to see for himself the progress being made towards handing over security responsibility to the Afghan Government.” (MoD, 5 Jan 11.)
The 2,000th recruit has passed out from the Helmand Police Training Centre, currently run by members of
5th Bn The Royal Regiment of Scotland. (MoD, 6 Jan 11.)
Comment: During his visit to Afghanistan (5 Jan 11), the Defence Secretary said that it would be “quite wrong” to make predictions about future troop levels. Yet again, the Defence Secretary appears to be spoiling for a ‘spat’ with the Prime Minister who has made such predictions. As it is, the matter will probably be decided in Washington DC. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 11/02, 10 Jan 11)
12 Jan 11. The German cabinet could today vote in favour of extending the country’s military mission in Afghanistan by a year. According to the new extension plan, the Bundeswehr troops withdrawal will begin at the end of 2011 with no change in the current number of 5,350 troops and €1.5bn operational a year. The plan also includes the handover dividends in Afghanistan being reinvested, which implies troops that leave certain areas under Afghan control will be relocated to other areas still in need. The last troops would be scheduled to leave the country completely by 2014 and a parliamentary vote on the extension is set for late January 2011, according to the Local. (Source: armytechnology.com)
06 Jan 11. British Defense Minister Liam Fox is due to meet his French counterpart, Alain Juppé, Jan. 13 here to advance defense cooperation between the two countries, the French Defense Ministry said. The ministerial meeting is intended to “put into effect” the treaty agreements signed at the Anglo-French summit Nov. 2 in London, French Defense Ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire said Jan. 6. The ministers are following up the treaties, which identified