04 May 16. Iraq and Syria: OP SHADER. On 25 Apr 16 Typhoons struck Daesh forces gathering for a possible attack in Northern Iraq. Typhoons and
Tornados attacked terrorist targets in Western and Northern Iraq on 26 Apr 16 and again, on the following day hitting multiple targets including: a command post, six mortar, machine-gun and rocket teams as well as two truck-bombs. On 28 Apr 16 Tornados bombed terrorists operating in Western and Northern Iraq, including machine-gun and rocket teams and the entrance to a tunnel system. Tornados used Brimstone on 29 Apr 16 to destroy a Daesh tank and an armed truck in Western Iraq. On 2 May 16 Typhoons hit a bunker and an anti-aircraft gun in Western Iraq while Tornados provided close air support to Iraqi forces in the North. A Reaper and Tornados conducted air strikes North of Mosul on 3 May 16 while Typhoons destroyed a terrorist vehicle near Fallujah. (MoD, 4 May 16)
“Now is the time to build on recent success and we are looking hard at what more we can offer as Iraqi combat operations intensify”. (Defence Secretary, 4 May 16.)
The UK plans to provide the Kurdish Peshmerga with further stocks of ammunition (worth £1m) to include sniper rounds and ammunition for heavy machine guns which were also gifted by the UK. (MoD, 4 May 16.)
Comment: The Defence Secretary’s statement was made in the context of a meeting with counter-Daesh Coalition counterparts in Stuttgart on 4 May 16. The Defence Secretary added that: “Further support will enhance the UK’s leading role in the fight against Daesh.” (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 16/18, 09 May 16)
02 May 16. Somalia: UK Troops Arrive. The Defence Secretary announced (2 May 16) that a team of UK troops, drawn from 1 Div Force Troop Command and Field Army Training, has arrived in Somalia. UK military personnel will provide medial, logistical and engineering support as part of a wider commitment to deploy 70 UK personnel to Somalia later in the year.
Comment: As recorded in DNA Issue 16/11 of 14 Mar 16, the UK military deployment to Somalia is to provide support for the Somali National Army and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The commitment is
part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review pledge to double the number of UK troops on UN peacekeeping tasks, from the 300 currently deployed. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 16/18, 09 May 16)
03 May 16. Libya: Plans to Deploy Troops. During a Westminster Hall debate (3 May 16) on UK Foreign Policy in Libya, a Foreign Office Minister confirmed that: “There is planning for 1,000 troops or so, but we are yet to receive the invitation”. The Minister added: “That support is likely to come, when it does, in the form of training and mentoring. Where that will take place is yet to be decided.”
Comment: The Libyan international assistance mission is an Italian-led initiative in which other nations (including France, Spain and the UK) are likely to participate, once a formal invitation is received from the
Government in Libya. The debate on ‘UK Foreign Policy in Libya’ is recorded in Hansard for 3 May 16, starting at Column 26WH. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 16/18, 09 May 16)
04 May 16. NATO Readiness Action Plan: UK Contribution. The Armed Forces. Minister confirmed (4 May 16) the UK’s contribution to the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) in future years, as follows:-
. 1,000-strong battle group for the Spanish-led VJTF(Land) in 2016.
. VJTF(Land) Framework Nation in 2017 leading a multinational force that includes up to 3,000 UK
personnel, a brigade headquarters and a core package of „enablers. (such as engineering and
logistics capabilities).
. 1,000-strong battle group for the Polish-led VJTF(Land) in 2020.
During 2016 and 2017, the UK will provide Airborne Early Warning, Air-to-Air Refuelling and Tornado or Typhoon aircraft for the VJTF(Air) commitment. The UK is also to contribute HMS OCEAN, as the two-star