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04 Aug 14. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. Armed Forces personnel from all three Services as well as the US Marine Corps gathered in Camp Bastion (4 Aug 14) to commemorate the start of the First World War. (MoD, 4 Aug 14.)
“The security situation in Afghanistan is still challenging….” (FCO Minister, 4 Aug 14.)
A US Major General was killed in an attack by an Afghan soldier at a British-run Academy, Camp Qargha. 14 others were reportedly injured. (BBC News 5/6 Aug 14.)
The (recently-appointed) Defence Secretary visited Helmand and Kandahar Provinces (7 Aug 14), meeting military personnel. The Defence Secretary also met the UK’s Ambassador to Afghanistan and the UK’s National Contingent Commander based in Kabul. (MoD, 7 Aug 14.)
AFGHANISTAN: INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE (ISAF)
TROOP CONTRIBUTING NATIONS (TCN) AS AT 4 AUG 14
United States 30,700
Lithuania 80
United Kingdom 3,936
Denmark 75
Germany 2,250
Albania 72
Italy 1,653
Norway 66
Jordan 1,066
Korea (RoK) 50
Romania 921
Portugal 50
Georgia 755
Mongolia 40
Turkey 392
Montenegro 25
Poland 322
Estonia 19
Bulgaria 318
Sweden 12
Slovakia 277
Ukraine 12
Australia 272
Latvia 11
Czech Republic 224
Greece 10
Netherlands 200
Luxembourg 10
Spain 184
Bosnia-Herzegovina 8
Belgium 161
Ireland 7
Croatia 157
Tonga 7
Macedonia 152
El Salvador 4
Armenia 121
New Zealand 4
United Arab Emirates 118
Austria 3
Hungary 100
Iceland 2
Azerbaijan 94
Malaysia 2
Finland 88
Slovenia 2
France 88
Bahrain 0
TOTAL 45,120
(Source: ISAF.)
It should be noted that the above totals are approximations and actual numbers change daily.
Comment: For some reason, the British authorities have released nothing ‘official’ to the general media concerning the incident in which Maj Gen H J Greene, US Army, was killed on 5 Aug 14. Details, therefore, remain obscure. The ISAF ‘drawdown’ continues. The past month has seen ISAF reduced by a further 11.1%, to 45,120. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/32, 11 Aug 14)
03 Aug 14. Libya: Evacuation of British Nationals. HMS ENTERPRISE arrived at Tripoli (3 Aug 14) where there has been “increased instability and fighting”. Around 110 passengers were transferred by boat and given supplies for the journey to Valetta where they arrived (early 4 Aug 14) for onward transfer. HMS ENTERPRISE left Tripoli for the second time on 5 Aug 14, carrying a further 93 eligible passengers. The British Embassy in Libya temporarily closed on 5 Aug 14 and, therefore, consular assistance is no longer available in the Country.
Comment: HMS ENTERPRISE sailed from Devonport in June 2014 for an 18-month deployment to complete survey operations aimed at improving maritime safety. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/32, 11 Aug 14)
08 Aug 14. Iraq: Humanitarian Assistance. The International Development Secretary announced (8 Aug 14) that the UK is releasing an £8m package of emergency humanitarian assistance for Iraq, following a meeting of the Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR) chaired by the Defence Secretary. In a statement (8 Aug 14) the Prime Minister said that he welcomed the US President’s decision to assist the Iraqi Government with “targeted US airstrikes, if necessary….”
Comment: Despite reports (9 Aug 14) that RAF deliveries of aid to Iraq were imminent, there was no official’ information available from the Ministry of Defence at the time. The latest package of humanitarian aid brings total UK support for those displaced people in Iraq to £13m. The aid includes emergency humanitarian supplies for 75,000 people, including aid that can be air dropped to those trapped in the Sinjar Mountains. (Source: D