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02 Sep 14. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. Soldiers from the Queen’s Royal Hussars and 5Bn The Rifles completed an Operation in the Lashkar Gah area to maintain security around Camp Bastion. (MoD, 2 Sep 14.)
Private Security Companies were paid the amounts indicated for FY 2013/14: G4S Risk Management – £25m and Minimal Risk Consultancy – £700,000. (FCO, 3 Sep 14.)
Comment: NATO allies and ISAF partners launched the Afghan National Army Trust Fund, which will be used to continue to support the Afghan Army after 2014. (NATO, 1 Sep 14)
NATO opened (2 Sep 14) the ‘Return to Hope’ website, which provides an account of the 11-year ISAF mission in Afghanistan.
The ISAF ‘drawdown’ continues. The past month has seen ISAF reduced by almost 4,000, to 41,124. The NATO Summit concluded with a ‘Declaration on Afghanistan.’ (PM’s Office, 4 Sep 14).
AFGHANISTAN: INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE (ISAF)
TROOP CONTRIBUTING NATIONS (TCN) AS AT 3 SEP 14
United States 28,970
Norway 57
United Kingdom 3,906
Korea (RoK) 50
Germany 1,599
Mongolia 40
Italy 1,411
Portugal 37
Georgia 755
UAE 35
Jordan 626
Netherlands 30
Turkey 393
Montenegro 25
Romania 327
Albania 22
Bulgaria 320
Sweden 13
Poland 304
Latvia 11
Slovakia 277
Ukraine 10
Australia 273
Greece 9
Czech Republic 227
Bosnia-Herz 8
Spain 181
Ireland 7
Belgium 160
Estonia 4
Croatia 153
Austria 3
Macedonia 152
Iceland 2
Denmark 145
Malaysia 2
Armenia 121
Slovenia 2
Hungary 101
Luxembourg 1
Azerbaijan 94
New Zealand 1
Finland 88
Bahrain 0
France 88
El Salvador 0
Lithuania 84
Tonga 0
TOTAL 41,124
(Source: ISAF.)
It should be noted that the above totals are approximations and actual numbers change daily. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/35, 08 Sep 14)
02 Sep 14. Iraq: OP SHADER. The Defence Secretary updated the House of Commons (2 Sep 14) on military activity in Iraq. Between 9 and 14 Aug 14, the UK delivered a total of 75 tonnes of humanitarian aid over Mount Sinjar through seven C-130 sorties. These flights were integrated with the US and included participation from the Royal Australian Air Force. RAF Akrotiri hosted the air transport used to drop humanitarian aid.
On 30/31 Aug 14, two UK C-130 aircraft dropped 13.8 tonnes of DfID aid to Amerli, near Kirkuk, as part of a coalition effort by Australian, French and US aircraft. The RAF has also carried out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions with surveillance being undertaken by Tornado GR4 between 13 and 16 Aug 14 and on 30/31 Aug 14. A Rivet Joint aircraft has been deployed and a Voyager has provided support. RAF C-17 and C-130 have delivered ammunition and equipment including small arms to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The Foreign Secretary said (5 Sep 14) that the UK has made “no commitment to take part in any air strikes as yet, but we’ll certainly consider the possibility….”.
During his Summit Press conference (5 Sep 14), the Prime Minister announced a UK offer to provide a NATO training mission for Iraq as soon as a new Iraqi Government is in place.
Comment: Foreign and Defence Ministers from 10 countries met (5 Sep 14) to agree an international strategy to counter the threat from ISIL. The meeting was