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British Forces are
serving in Iraq as part of the Coalition Force authorised under United
Nations Security Council Resolution 1546. This mandate will expire
upon the completion of the political process or if requested by the
Government of Iraq.
The UK Government has stated that it is committed to Iraq for as long
as the Iraqi Government judge that the coalition is required to
provide security and assist in the development of the Iraqi Security
Forces. UK military forces are mainly located around the area of
Basrah in Southern Iraq and military operations are conducted under
the Codename of Operation Telic.
During February 2007 the UK MoD announced a reduction in UK troop
levels from 7,100 to 5,500 by late summer 2007. Remaining troops will
stay into 2008, to give back-up to the Iraqi security forces if
required.
The majority of United Kingdom troops deployed to Iraq spend six
months in the theatre of operations and are in units commanded by the
Multinational Division (South-East).
The ongoing tasks for UK Forces in Iraq include:
-
Training and support
to Iraqi forces
-
Operations in support
of the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement, including integrity
of the Iraqi-Iranian border
-
Protection of
Coalition supply routes and key Iraqi strategic infrastructure
-
Targeted Strike
operations in the pursuit of a secure environment.
Since early 2003 UK
force levels in Iraq have been as follows:
Peak during Major Combat Operations (March/April 2003): 46,000
At the end of May 2003: 18,000
At the end of May 2004: 8,600
At the end of May 2005: 8,500
At the end of May 2006: 7,200
At the end of May 2007: 7,000 (approximately)
Other Coalition force levels in Iraq during early 2007 were
approximately:
| COUNTRY |
TOTAL TROOPS |
|
US |
146,000 |
| South Korea |
2,300 |
| Poland |
900 |
| Georgia |
800 |
| Australia |
900 |
| Romania |
600 |
| Denmark |
450 |
| El Salvadore |
380 |
| Bulgaria |
150 |
MULTINATIONAL DIVISION (SOUTH EAST) MND(SE)
The Headquarters of the MND(SE) is located at Basrah International
Airport in Southern Iraq. This is a composite multinational
headquarters with the majority of the personnel and infrastructure
being provided by the UK.
MND(SE) covers four provinces in Iraq with subsidiary headquarters
at: Shaibah (UK National Support Element) Maysan, Al Muthanna, Talil
Airbase, As Samawah and Dhi Qar.
The primary activities of MND(SE) are:
-
Supporting the ongoing political process in Iraq
-
Security Sector Reform - Training the new Iraqi security Forces
with partnership operations where MND(SE) forces back-up, assist and
monitor these Iraqi Security Forces.
-
Normalisation - Helping to get society on its feet again by
assisting in the restoration of water, power, health, education,
judiciary, oil industry and heritage and encouraging commercial
markets and the economy.
During mid 2007 the following UK units were under
the command of MND (SE):
HQ 1 Mechanised Brigade
215 Signal Squadron Royal Signals
2 x Squadrons from the Household Cavalry Regiment
The Kings Royal Hussars
2 x Squadrons from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment
1st Battalion Irish Guards
1 x Company from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh
2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh
4th Battalion The Rifles
1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
22 Engineer Regiment
1 x Squadron from 23 Pioneer Regiment Royal Logistic Corps
3 Logistic Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps
1x Company from 6 Battalion Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
Close Medical Support Squadron, 3 Close Support Medical Regiment Royal
Army Medical Corps
158 Provost Company 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police
22 Battery, 32 Regiment Royal Artillery
34 Field Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps
Approximately 260 members of the reserve forces are believed to have
been deployed in support of the above units.
A very high readiness reserve battalion (VHRR) is held in the UK at 10
days' readiness to deploy to Iraq.
In addition to the UK personnel, in early 2007 MND(SE) had
approximately 2,000 troops from countries that include: Australia,
Denmark, South Korea, and Romania.
COSTS OF OPERATIONS IN IRAQ
|
.
|
£ Million
|
|
2002-2003
|
.
|
|
Operations in Iraq
|
629
|
|
Expenditure on capital expenditure
|
218
|
|
Total
|
847
|
|
2003-2004
|
.
|
|
Operations in Iraq
|
1,051
|
|
Expenditure on capital expenditure
|
260
|
|
Total
|
1,311
|
|
2004 - 2005
|
.
|
|
Operations in Iraq
|
747
|
|
Expenditure on capital expenditure
|
163
|
|
Total |
910 |
|
2005 - 2006 |
. |
|
Operations in Iraq
|
798
|
|
Expenditure on capital expenditure
|
160
|
|
Total
|
958
|
|
Grand Total
|
4,026
|
The current (early 2007) estimated cost of
operations in Iraq for 2006-07 is in the region of £860 million.
RESERVISTS
During January 2006, there were around 700 Reservists deployed in Iraq. This
figure comprised more than 650 Army reserves, 28 Royal Air Force
reserves, and 20 Royal Marine reservists. The majority of these
reservists were serving on six-month tours.
NATO SUPPORT
At the ministerial meeting in Brussels on 9
December 2004, Foreign Ministers of the 26 NATO countries agreed to move
ahead with expanding NATO's role in Iraq. 23 NATO countries have agreed to
provide support to the NATO Training Mission-Iraq by providing
personnel and equipment to train the Iraqi Security Forces in and outside of Iraq. Of these 23 countries, fifteen have agreed to
deploy forces within Iraq. These are Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Hungary,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
IRAQI NATIONAL GUARD
The mission of the Iraqi national guard
is to conduct internal security operations, including support to
Ministry of Interior forces and constabulary duties.
The training process comprises three weeks' basic training for the
individual, followed by four weeks' collective training. In late
2005, more than 50,000 personnel were assessed as being trained, equipped
and operational in the Iraqi national guard. HQ Multi-National Force
Iraq assesses that the future strength of the Iraqi national guard
will be more than 56,000 personnel.
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