NEWS IN BRIEF – EUROPE
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26 Jun 15. Tunisia: Tourists Attacked. Reuters reported (26 Jun 15) that a gunman disguised as a tourist opened fire at a Tunisian hotel, killing 39 people including Belgians, Britons and Germans. Tourists ran for cover after the gunfire and an explosion which erupted at the Imperial Marhaba in Sousse, South of Tunis.
The Prime Minister issued a statement from the European Council (26 Jun 15) and the Foreign Secretary set out the Government’s position from London (27 Jun 15). The Foreign Secretary chaired a COBR (Cabinet
Office Briefing Room) meeting which looked at the Government’s response to all three incidents which took place on 26 Jun 15 (i.e. those in France and Kuwait as well as in Tunisia). Despite a „somewhat confused. situation, the Foreign Secretary was able to confirm that at least five Britons had been killed in Tunisia.
Comment: The day (26 Jun 15) saw a decapitated body daubed in Arabic writing found in France while a suicide bomber reportedly killed 24 people at a mosque in Kuwait. At least 145 civilians were said to have been killed by Islamic State militants in Syria. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/26, 29 Jun 15)
23 Jun 15. Iraq: OP SHADER. An MoD update (23 Jun 15) reported that, on 21 Jun 15, a pair of Tornado GR4 supported by a Voyager tanker flew from RAF Akrotiri to provide close air support to the Kurdish Peshmerga. In a wide-ranging patrol across Northern Iraq, the Tornados responded to requests for assistance as terrorist positions were encountered on the ground. The aircraft then conducted two successful encounters with Paveway IV guided bombs. In the West of the country, an RAF Reaper provided overwatch for Iraqi Army operations in Anbar Province.
Comment: On the ground, British military instructors are said to be “working closely with coalition partners to provide Infantry combat training to the Iraqi Forces”. A particular focus of training is on how to deal with the threat posed by booby-traps and other improvised explosive devices. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/26, 29 Jun 15)
25 Jun 15. Sierra Leone: OP GRITROCK. A Written Answer in the House of Lords (25 Jun 15) showed that the UK has committed £427m to combat Ebola in West Africa; £373m for the ongoing response and £54m for early recovery programmes. This support covers the cost of UK operations, including MoD assets and personnel, clinicians, materials and medicines.
Comment: The UN reported that 27,467 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in the three most affected countries (Guinea, Liberia & Sierra Leone). 11,217 deaths have been reported. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/26, 29 Jun 15)
22 Jun 15. HMS ENTERPRISE: To Replace HMS BULWARK. The Defence Secretary announced (22 Jun 15) that HMS ENTERPRISE is to replace HMS BULWARK in support of the European Union mission to tackle migration in the Mediterranean. HMS BULWARK will be returning to the UK for planned maintenance on 3 Jul 15. HMS ENTERPRISE will host a crew of between 60 and 70 personnel for this mission and she is forecast to be ‘on task’ until the Autumn. The ship is expected to “contribute to the broad maritime capabilities desired by the Italian Operational Commander”.
Comment: HMS ENTERPRISE is one of two Survey Vessels Hydrographic Oceanographic (SVHO); the other being HMS ECHO. It is a sign of the times that such a specialist vessel has been selected for what is a fairly routine deployment. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/26, 29 Jun 15)
25 Jun 15. Afghanistan: NATO’s Continued Support. NATO Defence Ministers confirmed (25 Jun 15) “enduring support for Afghanistan” during a Ministerial meeting