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28 Nov 17. Iraq and Syria: OP SHADER. On 16 Nov 17 a Reaper bombed a group of terrorists firing on Syrian Democratic Forces in Eastern Syria.
Tornados destroyed a terrorist truck loaded with equipment on 18 Nov 17 in North Western Iraq. On 22 Nov 17 Typhoons demolished a complex of buildings used to construct truck bombs in Northern Iraq. (MoD, 28 Nov 17.)
On 29 Nov 17 the Prime Minister became the first major foreign leader to visit Iraq since the fall of Mosul; announcing the UK’s commitment to addressing the evolving threat from Daesh and countering the dispersal of
foreign fighters. (PM’s Office, 29 Nov 17.)
Comment: Following her visit to Iraq, the Prime Minster went on to Jordan (29 Nov 17) where she set out the case for going beyond dealing with Daesh militarily, by tackling its root causes. The UK is providing £94.5m
initially to improve education, create jobs and to “boost Jordan’s long-term economic resilience”. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/44, 04 Dec 17)
29 Nov 17. South Sudan: OP TRENTON. The MoD advised (29 Nov 17) that UN medals have been awarded to 106 UK troops deployed on OP TRENTON, the UK contribution to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). There are nearly 400 troops deployed in South Sudan, divided into three locations and making “a vital contribution to supporting the UN mission through improving infrastructure”. The UK Engineering and Medical Task Force has also been staffing the UK-built Field Hospital, providing healthcare to over 1,800 UN civilian and military staff based in Bentiu.
Comment: The members of the Troika (Norway, the UK and the US) confirmed (30 Nov 17) that they had recently travelled to Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan and Kenya in support of efforts to reach a resolution to the
conflict in South Sudan. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/44, 04 Dec 17)
20 Nov 17. Malawi: Counter-Poaching. The MoD issued (20 Nov 17) a summary of Army activities in support of African Parks’ Rangers counter-poaching
effort. As previously noted, a team of seven soldiers deployed to Liwonde National Park in Malawi to support the local Rangers. The soldiers were selected from a range of units in the British Army and were chosen for their natural aptitude for tracking and flair for ‘mentoring’.
Comment: Since 2015, African Parks has held six different courses in Liwonde, training 166 Rangers from across the parks it manages. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/44, 04 Dec 17)
01 Dec 17. HMS DIAMOND: Home Early. The RN reported (1 Dec 17) that HMS DIAMOND has returned to Portsmouth Naval Base following three months in the Mediterranean. The Type 45 destroyer was scheduled to sail to the Gulf for a nine-month deployment but returned to her home port early after “experiencing technical issues”. According to the MoD’s website all Type 45 destroyers were thus in UK waters or alongside in Portsmouth, as at 2 Dec 17.
Comment: HMS DIAMOND left the UK in early September for the Middle East but was soon re-tasked to undertake the Flagship role for Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2) in the Mediterranean. HMS OCEAN was originally assigned to the NATO Flagship role but was diverted to the Caribbean on 7 Sep 17 in order to undertake humanitarian relief tasks following Hurricane Erma. HMS DIAMOND’s “technical issues” will doubtless raise further concerns about the Type 45 destroyers and overall readiness of the Fleet. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/44, 04 Dec 17)
20 Nov 17. Warrior: Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP). The Defence Procurement Minister said (20 Nov 17) that the Warrior fleet size and manufacturing contract were “subject to ongoing negotiations” and that the investment decision will be based on confirmation of value for money through the MoD’s approvals pro