02 Feb 16. Iraq and Syria: OP SHADER. Tornado GR4, Typhoon FRG4 and Reapers continued to fly daily missions over Syria and Iraq. Typhoons worked closely with other coalition aircraft to target a group of terrorists near Ramadi on 2 Feb 16. Typhoons and Tornados provided close air support to Iraqi forces clearing Daesh positions around Ramadi on 3 Feb 16. RAF patrols over the countryside around Ramadi and Fallujah continued on 4 Feb 16. On the following day Typhoons operated around Habbaniyah and Ramadi, using eight Paveways to cause considerable damage. On 7 Feb 16 Tornados delivered a Brimstone missile to destroy a truck-bomb while Typhoon missions successfully attacked an armed pick-up truck near Ramadi. (MoD, 9 Feb 16.)
Around 1,000 British personnel are directly contributing to the counter-Daesh coalition. Tornado, Typhoon and Reaper aircraft are carrying out strike and reconnaissance missions against Daesh over Syria and Iraq, together with C-130, Voyager and Sentinel aircraft. In Iraq UK troops are delivering counter-IED training to the Iraqi (including Kurdish) security forces along with other Infantry skills. (Armed Forces’ Minister, 10 Feb 16.)
Comment: The International Syria Support Group met in Munich (11/12 Feb 16) and agreed to achieving a cessation of hostilities within a week. The Foreign Secretary said (12 Feb 16): “If implemented fully and properly by every ISSG member, this will be an important step towards relieving the killing and suffering in Syria.” (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 16/07, 15 Feb 16)
10 Feb 16. Afghanistan: OP TORAL. The Army website advised (10 Feb 16) that about 400 Gurkhas from 2nd Bn The Royal Gurkha Rifles (2 RGR) are to deploy to Kabul from their barracks in Shorncliffe in April 2016. The Gurkhas’ mission is to protect NATO military and civilian advisers working in Government Ministries and in the Officers’ Academy.
Comment: 2 RGR will be working in Afghanistan with the Foxhound light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV). As Light Infantry, the Gurkhas will have spent several months training with Foxhound prior to deployment. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 16/07, 15 Feb 16)
10 Feb 16. NATO: Maritime Package. At the NATO Defence Ministerial in Brussels (10/11 Feb 16) the Defence Secretary outlined a maritime package which included:
• Deployment of HMS IRON DUKE in the Baltic Sea until July 2016.
• Deployment of a Type 45 destroyer to Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG 1) in October/ November 2016.
• Provision of the NATO Response Force Maritime Component Commander (Rear Admiral) in 2016.
• Deployment of three minesweepers; each for four months.
• Agreement for NATO to use EX JOINT WARRIOR in October 2016 to train commanders.
• Contribution of two frigates to EX DYNAMIC MONGOOSE and HMS OCEAN to EX BALTOPS.
• Commitment of a Fleet Diving Unit to EX OPEN SPIRIT in Lithuania and EX NORTHERN CHALLENGE in Iceland.
The Foreign Secretary also updated the Ministerial on the TACET initiative (first announced in October 2015).
Comment: During an earlier NATO Defence Ministerial (8 Oct 15) the Defence Secretary explained that the US- German Transatlantic Capability Enhancement and Training (TACET) initiative builds on the UK’s contribution to policing Baltic air space (RAF Typhoons having been deployed to the region each year since May 2014). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 16/07, 15 Feb 16)
11 Feb 16. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK): Satellite Launch. A Foreign Office Minister delivered (11 Feb 16) a Written Statement, in the House of Commons, entitled Ballistic Missiles: North Korea. On 7 Feb 16 North Korea announced a satellite launch that morning, at Dongchang-Ri on the country’s West coast. The ‘provocation’ took place almost exactly a month after North Korea announced to the media that it had conducted its first hydrogen bomb test on 6 Jan 16. The UK remained “deeply concerned by North Korea’s continued development of nuclear