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13 Oct 14. Iraq: OP SHADER. The Foreign Secretary visited Iraq to discuss the threat from ISIL and the international response. The Foreign
Secretary announced that the UK is funding bomb disposal training for Kurdish fighters. (FCO, 13 Oct 14.)
Ministers anticipate calling out “a small number of primarily RAF Reservists” as part of the UK’s contribution “to stabilising the security and humanitarian situation in Northern Iraq.”. (Written Statement, 13 Oct 14.)
The RAF began flying Tornado GR4 strike missions on 27 Sep 14: as at 10 Oct 14 they had conducted 20 missions over Iraq. Voyager air-to-air refuelling and Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft continue to provide support to British and coalition aircraft. (Written Statement, 13 Oct 14.)
Reaper remotely piloted aircraft are being redeployed from Afghanistan for use against ISIL. (Written Statement, 16 Oct 14.)
The UK currently has eight Tornado GR4 aircraft assigned to strike Operations in Iraq. As at 8 Oct 14, there were 133 personnel deployed to RAF Akrotiri to support these missions. (Written Answer, 17 Oct 14.)
Comment: The Foreign Secretary made a Statement on Iraq and Syria in the House of Commons on 16 Oct 14. The Statement is recorded in Hansard, starting in Column 468. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/41, 20 Oct 14)
16 Oct 14. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK/OP CATALINA . From 1 Jan 06 to 30 Sep 14, 1,188 personnel were Wounded in Action and 7,367 were aeromedically
evacuated. During September 2014 one person was Wounded in Action and 32 were aeromedically evacuated. (Def Stats, 16 Oct 14.)
The Foreign Secretary presented the 40th progress report on Afghanistan since November 2010. The report noted that Kabul has experienced an increased number of insurgent incidents compared with 2013. Meanwhile,
ISAF redeployment continues and the number of bases reduces. (Written Statement, 13 Oct 14.)
AFGHANISTAN: INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE (ISAF)
TROOP CONTRIBUTING NATIONS (TCN) AS AT 6 OCT 14
United States 24,050
Belgium 55
United Kingdom 2,839
Mongolia 40
Germany 1,707
UAE 35
Italy 1,400
Montenegro 25
Georgia 755
Latvia 18
Jordan 616
Netherlands 16
Turkey 367
Ukraine 14
Bulgaria 320
Sweden 13
Romania 317
Slovakia 12
Australia 271
Albania 11
Czech Republic 227
Greece 9
Spain 181
Bosnia-Herzegovina 8
Croatia 153
Ireland 7
Macedonia 152
Austria 3
Denmark 149
Iceland 3
Armenia 121
Estonia 2
Azerbaijan 94
Malaysia 2
Finland 90
Slovenia 2
France 90
Luxembourg 1
Hungary 84
New Zealand 1
Lithuania 72
Bahrain 0
Poland 65
El Salvador 0
Norway 58
Korea (RoK) 0
Portugal 57
Tonga 0
TOTAL 34,512
(Source: ISAF.)
Comment: The MoD’s ‘Top Level Messages’ for October 2014 notes that the redeployment of kit and equipment from Afghanistan is “on track” and over 80% of all vehicles, major equipment and matériel has been redeployed. Redeployment is expected to cost “in the region of £300-£350m.” The ISAF ‘drawdown’ continues (as shown at page 3). The month to 6 Oct 14 saw ISAF reduced by a further 6,600, to 34,512. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/41, 20 Oct 14)
13 Oct 14. Sie