Exclusive: Diplomatic paperwork hold-up delays British Army deployment to Iraq

A delay in securing diplomatic clearances prevented a British Army battalion from starting its operational tour on time, Forces News can exclusively report.

Members of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, were due to deploy to Erbil in northern Iraq at the start of 2024, but were prevented from doing so due to a delay in processing the necessary diplomatic documentation required to enter Iraq's borders.

The delay caused another unit, 1st Battalion, The Royal Yorkshire Regiment, to have its tour of duty extended, causing personnel to remain in the country for an additional period of time.

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Forces News understands the delay lasted three months and affected 70 members of the battalion.

Sir Jeremy Quin, chair of the Defence Select Committee, told Forces News he hoped "lessons have been learnt" from the situation.

Sir Jeremy said: "Extending a deployment is sometimes necessary, but it impacts service personnel and their families.

"I'm sure their wellbeing is a priority for the Ministry of Defence, and I hope that lessons have been learnt from this situation."

2 SCOTS, which has since begun operations in northern Iraq, is deployed on Op Shader, the UK contribution to the eradication of the Islamic State.

Last year, Forces News was given exclusive access to the operation, which sees the UK working in partnership with an international coalition of more than 60 nations.

The MOD would not specify the precise reason for the delay or who exactly was to blame, but confirmed an "operational issue" had been resolved which had delayed the completion of a handover between the units.

It is understood the delay has not had any knock-on effects to the wider operational or training programmes for either unit, other than the delay in 70 soldiers returning home to their loved ones.

It is also understood that a delay of this nature has not happened previously. A source said the MOD was "confident it won't happen again".

An Army spokesperson said: "The changeover of units deployed on operations is a complex and often sensitive operational activity, with various factors which can cause delays.

"We're grateful to the incoming company of 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the outgoing company of 1st Battalion Royal Yorkshire Regiment for their patience and professionalism, while an operational issue was resolved which delayed the completion of their handover."

Forces News' exclusive 'behind the scenes' film on the British Army in Iraq from July 2023 can be viewed here.