More British Soldiers Deployed to Iraq

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Liam, Editor, Warfare.Today

The British Army Increases its Number of Royal Engineers to Support Operation SHADER

Royal Engineers will deploy to Al Asad Airbase to support the campaign to defeat Daesh in Iraq. Crown copyright.

Royal Engineers will deploy to Al Asad Airbase, Iraq, as part of Operation SHADER (Crown Copyright)

As the campaign to defeat Daesh in Iraq enters its final phase, the UK is sending additional troops to Anbar Province as part of the Global Coalition’s presence there. (Note that the MOD refers to Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, as “Daesh”.)

The British contribution to this international effort is codenamed Operation SHADER.

600+ Soldiers in Iraq

44 additional Royal Engineers deployed to Al Asad Airbase in August, increasing the UK footprint there to over 300 and bringing the total number of British troops in Iraq to over 600.

The additional personnel will construct a camp of 80 housing units, a squadron headquarters and offices, freeing up coalition personnel to support counter-Daesh operations in the wider region.

Bringing the Defeat of ISIS a Step Closer

Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, said:

We are stepping up our contribution to the fight against Daesh and fulfilling Britain’s role as a key player in the global coalition.

Daesh is being defeated. Iraqi forces, backed by coalition airstrikes, have now liberated 70% of the territory Daesh held and the victims of its barbarism are being helped by our humanitarian support. These extra troops will help support operations to bring the defeat of Daesh a step closer.

5 Armoured Engineer Squadron

The troops from 5 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 22 Engineer Regiment, based at Tidworth Camp, Wiltshire, are held at readiness for just such a task. They will be deployed to Iraq for around six months and have been tasked with constructing infrastructure including accommodation and offices in the coalition camp.

The deployment will increase the number of UK personnel currently supporting the multinational effort against Daesh to over 600. They are primarily involved in training Iraqi security forces in battle winning infantry, counter-IED, engineering and combat medical skills, with over 58,000 Iraqis trained so far. In addition to personnel on the ground in Iraq, RAF aircraft have carried out around 1,400 strikes against Daesh from their base in Akrotiri, Cyprus.

Source: MOD.

Image: British Army, Corps of Royal Engineers, 5 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 22 Engineer Regiment, on Ex Pashtun Charge (Crown Copyright, 2012). Pictured is a Mastiff fitted with Choker Mine Rollers following on behind the Panama remote control Land Rover which carries a ground penetrating radar used for route clearance operations. Vehicles from 5 Armoured Engineer Squadron, Royal Engineers, on Exercise Pashtun Charge 5.