Tri-Service
250 Military Personnel To Be Sent To Iraq To Help Tackle Daesh
The UK is sending 250 more military personnel, including 90 soldiers, to Iraq.
The move would almost double the amount of personnel in the country with most being sent to the Al Asad airbase in Anbar province, 100 miles west of Baghdad.
Around 300 British men and women are already in Iraq helping to train Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the fight against Daesh.
The new personnel will include 90 soldiers, 50 trainers, 30 to form a Head Quarter staff and reportedly a further 80 engineers to work on the infrastructure.
The Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
“This deployment will add to the significant contribution the UK is already making to the campaign, with over 1,100 personnel deployed to the region. Our strike aircraft have now conducted around 900 air strikes against Daesh targets in Iraq and Syria and our Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft provide niche and highly valued capabilities.”
"As Iraqi forces continue to regain territory and begin preparatory operations to retake Mosul, it is important that the coalition continues to provide the support needed to allow them to make further progress."
UK combat operations in Iraq ended in 2009.
The Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War will be published on Wednesday July 6.
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