Tri-Service
Britain Considering Sending More Troops To Iraq
The Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, will discuss sending more British military trainers to Iraq at a meeting of anti-IS coaltion ministers in Stuttgart.
The meeting was called by the US Defence Secretary, Ash Carter, who wants to accelerate action against the Islamist militants in Iraq and Syria.
“We are always looking to build momentum in this,” “so as the campaign progresses [in Iraq] and in Syria, and more opportunities are presented to make different kinds of contributions, we're going to do that. That's the whole point.”
As well as flying bombing and surveillance missions, the UK also has more than 300 troops in Iraq to train Kurdish forces.
But Mr. Fallon is considering more help for ground forces in Iraq, saying “Now is the time to build on recent success and we are looking hard at what more we can offer as Iraqi combat operations intensify.”
He insists IS have been forced onto the back foot by the Iraqis, and told the cabinet that the Islamists have recently been driven out from the town of Hit.
In March UK troop numbers in Iraq were increased by 30, to provide specialist medical and bridge-building support.
Whitehall sources say while it’s too early to talk about numbers, the uplift being considered now would be noticeably bigger than the last one.
But no decision has been taken yet, and it may well not be taken at this meeting.
The Defence Secretary will make one concrete announcement, a gift of ammunition for Kurdish Forces.
They will welcome the bullets for their British supplied heavy machine guns, but its more than a year since they first complained that their supplies had run out.
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