CURRENT OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN (OPERATION HERRICK)INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE (ISAF)

Following deployments in Helmand Province by 16 Air Assault Brigade and 3 Commando Brigade in mid 2007, UK Forces in Afghanistan were drawn mainly from 12 Mechanised Brigade. In addition, following the UK handover of command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in February 2007 some 150 personnel remain deployed with the ISAF Headquarters in Kabul.

This will mean that towards late summer 2007 the number of UK personnel in Southern Afghanistan should settle at around 5,800.

The UK MoD has also decided to maintain until April 2009 some capabilities already deployed in Afghanistan, including the Harrier GR7/GR9s, the Apache Attack Helicopters, Viking all-terrain vehicles, and Royal Engineers to support reconstruction activities.

The principal units deployed in mid 2007 were:

HQ 12 Mechanised Brigade
Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron
The Light Dragoons
1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards
1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment
1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters
26 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers
19 Regiment Royal Artillery
2 Signal Regiment
4 Logistic Support Regiment
4 General Support Medical Regiment

Elements of other units are also deploying to provide niche capabilities. These included:

Armoured Support Group of the Royal Marines
2nd Royal Tank Regiment
3 Regiment, Army Air Corps
9 Regiment, Army Air Corps

RAF support is provided by:

1 (Fighter), IV (Army Co-Operation) Squadron
Elements of 18, 24, 27, 30, 47 and 70 Squadrons
Elements of 3, 5 and 7 Force Protection Wing Headquarters
Elements of 2, 51 and 15 Squadrons of the Royal Air Force Regiment.

As with previous deployments to operational areas there will be a requirement to deploy reservists to Afghanistan. Early 2007 plans suggest that approximately 420 reservists will be required to support 12 Mechanised Brigade.

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is mandated under Chapter VII of the United Nations (UN) Charter (Peace Enforcing) by a number of UN Security Resolutions. ISAF exists to help the Afghan people, not to govern them.

Additionally, under the UN mandate, the role of ISAF is to assist in the maintenance of security to help the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the UN in those areas it is responsible for.

NATO assumed command and control of the ISAF mission on August 11, 2003.

More than 35,000 troops make up ISAF, with contributions from 37 nations with national contingent strengths changing on a regular basis.

Major contributors include:

There are another 12,000 US troops in Afghanistan deployed outside ISAF command under the terms of the US Operation Enduring Freedom.