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08 Sep 15. Iraq: OP SHADER. British Forces have continued to conduct air operations to assist the Iraqi Government in its fight against ISIL (MoD, 8 Sep 15).
• 27 Aug 15: Reaper destroyed a large truck-bomb.
• 28 Aug 15: Reaper destroyed a building used by terrorists.
• 30 Aug 15: Tornado patrol bombed an ISIL excavator.
• 1 Sep 15: Reaper attacked a terrorist check-point.
• 2 Sep 15: Reaper conducted four successful attacks on terrorist targets.
• 2 Sep 15: Second Reaper attacked a terrorist position.
• 2 Sep 15: Tornado destroyed an engineering vehicle.
*3 Sep 15: Reaper destroyed an ammunition load.
• 4 Sep 15: Reaper supported two coalition air strikes
• 6 Sep 15: Two Tornados conducted Paveway strikes.
• 7 Sep 15: Reaper destroyed an ammunition truck.
• 7 Sep 15: Two Tornados destroyed three terrorist buildings
Comment: The MoD claimed (8 Sep 15) that ISIL terrorists had “suffered repeated losses” from numerous RAF strikes conducted during the previous two weeks. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/36, 14 Sep 15)
10 Sep 15. Afghanistan: Relocation of Interpreters. Questions about interpreters who had worked with British Forces were asked (10 Sep 15) in both Houses of Parliament. According to the answers given, over 170 former local staff have already been relocated to the UK under the Ex Gratia Redundancy Scheme together with some 400 family members. Over 35 more local staff have had their applications approved and will be relocating to the UK, with their immediate family members,
“in the near future”.
Comment: Answering in the House of Commons, the Armed Forces’ Minister said that the UK is the only nation with a permanent team, including trained investigation Officers, in Afghanistan to investigate claims of intimidation. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/36, 14 Sep 15)
07 Sep 15. Syria: Killing of British Nationals. In a comprehensive statement to the House of Commons (7 Sep 15) the Prime Minister detailed the circumstances in which “two ISIL fighters of British nationality” had been killed in air strikes. Reyaad Khan was killed in a precision airstrike carried out on 21 Aug 15 by an RAF remotely piloted aircraft while he was travelling in a vehicle in the area of Raqqa. Two ISIL associates were also killed, one of whom (Rahul Amin) was identified as a UK national.
The following morning’s broadcasts and newspapers (8 Sep 15) were dominated by the Prime Minister’s announcement that two British ISIL ‘jihadists’ were killed by an RAF drone strike.
Comment: In a wide-ranging radio interview on Radio 4’s Today Programme (8 Sep 15), the Defence Secretary said that the above type of action had to be necessary, proportionate and based on the right of any country to defend itself. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/36, 14 Sep 15)
08 Sep 15. Pakistan: C-IED Equipment. In a Written Statement to the House of Commons (8 Sep 15), the Defence Secretary described a package of spare parts for counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) equipment which the UK intends to gift to Pakistan to support previously gifted equipment. The value of the package is £948,439 plus some £40,000 for packaging and shipping.
Comment: In May 2015, the UK finished providing a three-year C-IED programme to help Pakistan develop a multi-agency capability for tackling IED. As part of this programme, the UK has gifted C-IED equipment worth over £12m to Pakistan. A follow-on programme is to be launched later in 2015. Pakistan now has a rapidly expanding C-IED capability, with over 5,000 personnel trained. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/36, 14 Sep 15)
07 Sep 15. Submarine: Damage to Fishing Vessel. The Armed Forces‟ Minister delivered (7 Sep 15) a Written Statement covering the da