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23 Feb 15. Sierra Leone: OP GRITROCK. The MoD has deployed around 1,200 personnel over the last six months in the fight against Ebola. These personnel have overseen the construction of six Treatment Centres to deliver specialist care to Ebola patients. An Ebola Training Academy has been constructed and over 4,000 local nationals trained in a variety of Ebola related roles. (Written Answer (WA), 23 Feb 15.)
On a visit to Sierra Leone, the International Development Secretary said that the UK contingent would stay in the Country “until the job is done”. (DfID, 27 Feb 15.)
Two RN nurses set up a volunteer emergency blood donor panel on board RFA Argus. (Navy News, March 2015.)
Comment: 23,781 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of EVD (Ebola Virus Disease) have been reported in the three most affected countries (Guinea, Liberia & Sierra Leone). 9,637 deaths have been reported.
(UN Situation Report, 27 Feb 15.) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/10, 02 Mar 15)
23 Feb 15. Iraq: OP SHADER. The Defence Secretary said that the UK is making a major contribution to the coalition countering ISIL. As at 22 Feb 15, the UK had conducted 152 air strikes in Iraq and deployed a range of aircraft to the region. (Oral Answers (OA), 23 Feb 15.)
HM Government has gifted some 40 heavy machine guns with spares and some 480,000 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition in addition to 49 tonnes of non-lethal assistance to the Kurdish Peshmerga. (OA, 23 Feb 15.)
The UK will have around 30 personnel delivering counter-IED training in Erbil, with a further two working in the Coalition HQ. Training is due to start in March (2015) and to last for six months, depending on demand. (WA, 23 Feb 15.)
On 24 Feb 15 Tornado GR4s based at RAF Akrotiri provided close air support to Iraqi ground forces in Anbar Province. On 25 Feb 15 a Reaper fired Hellfire missiles to engage two ISIL positions. (MoD, 26 Feb 15.)
“Military action in Iraq is part of the Government’s comprehensive strategy, working in consultation with our allies in the wider coalition, to tackle ISIL”. (WA, 26 Feb 15.)
Comment: The Defence Secretary answered a number of questions about ISIL and the confrontation in Iraq during Oral Questions in the House of Commons on 23 Feb 15. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/10, 02 Mar 15)
BATTLESPACE Comment: During IDEX there were reports of considerable friction between the UK and UAE, with Philip Dunne being put on the mat in being asked to explain the lack of information sharing on IS between the UK and Gulf nations and problems around some dissidents. Hence the Typhoon announcement regarding the ability to carry Brimstone as the Saudi Typhoons have not been able to engage IS ground targets. (See: ‘Typhoon: Upgrade Contract’ below) A number of discussions centred around the probable source of finance for the Egyptian Rafales, the Gulf States, and the fact that Rafale has always had ground attack capability. The MTL receivership and its effect on the ability of Nimr to deliver vehicles to the UAE Armed Forces and subsequent rumours wrongly blaming Nimr for the MTL problems hardly smoother relations between the two countries!(See: MTL ARISES FROM THE ASHES – THE BLAME GAME CONTINUES! By Julian Nettlefold, BATTLESPACE)It will be interesting to see if David Cameron takes the dressing down seriously and whether he does anything to mend relations particularly as more Gulf nations like Qatar and the UAE are now looking at Rafale not Typhoon. Cameron’s lack of Foreign Policy is now becoming glaringly apparent, with his PR-like solutions getting him nowhere fast. In addition Lockheed Martin can hardly been pleased with the stance Barack Obama took over the Muslim Brotherhood, leaving