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01/05/2003
UK to reduce military presence in Gulf
Britain is set to reduce its military strength in the Gulf, in anticipation of the US president's announcement today that the Iraq war is over.
By mid-May, British armed forces in the region should drop from 45,000 to 25-30,000 and a significant portion of the Royal Navy's fleet in the area is also to return home.
Defence secretary Geoff Hoon said that with combat operations in Iraq now complete, the focus now was on policing and "stabilisation".
Mr Hoon said: "Our aim is to leave an Iraq that is confident, secure and fully integrated with the international community.
"We will continue to withdraw assets and personnel from the region where possible, but we will maintain an appropriate military presence for as long as necessary."
The move will see the immediate withdrawal of 3,500 soldiers from a number of regiments including the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment and 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment and elements from special forces.
In order to free up more replacements, call-out notices will be sent to 1,200 reservists with the expectation that more will be deployed in the future.
HMS Ark Royal has now left the Gulf region and is due to return to the UK in mid-May accompanied by the destroyer HMS York and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Victoria. In coming days, the helicopter carrier, HMS Ocean, together with HMS Edinburgh and four Royal Fleet Auxiliaries vessels will head home.
However, several vessels will remain in the Gulf to clear mines and assist in the humanitarian operation.
As for the RAF, 45 aircraft have returned home and 26 helicopters will be withdrawn at the same time as HMS Ocean.
The redeployments are expected to have been completed by July.
Earlier this week, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Michael Boyce – who retires at the end of the week – said that he believed the military presence in the Gulf could be reduced to 10,000 by the end of the year.
Sir Michael also said that the army would require a large injection of cash to replace its stocks and enhance its capability for operations in the future.
However, he warned that the army would need time to recover and probably would not be in a position to deploy on a significant scale again for 12-18 months.
(GMcG)
By mid-May, British armed forces in the region should drop from 45,000 to 25-30,000 and a significant portion of the Royal Navy's fleet in the area is also to return home.
Defence secretary Geoff Hoon said that with combat operations in Iraq now complete, the focus now was on policing and "stabilisation".
Mr Hoon said: "Our aim is to leave an Iraq that is confident, secure and fully integrated with the international community.
"We will continue to withdraw assets and personnel from the region where possible, but we will maintain an appropriate military presence for as long as necessary."
The move will see the immediate withdrawal of 3,500 soldiers from a number of regiments including the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment and 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment and elements from special forces.
In order to free up more replacements, call-out notices will be sent to 1,200 reservists with the expectation that more will be deployed in the future.
HMS Ark Royal has now left the Gulf region and is due to return to the UK in mid-May accompanied by the destroyer HMS York and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Victoria. In coming days, the helicopter carrier, HMS Ocean, together with HMS Edinburgh and four Royal Fleet Auxiliaries vessels will head home.
However, several vessels will remain in the Gulf to clear mines and assist in the humanitarian operation.
As for the RAF, 45 aircraft have returned home and 26 helicopters will be withdrawn at the same time as HMS Ocean.
The redeployments are expected to have been completed by July.
Earlier this week, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Michael Boyce – who retires at the end of the week – said that he believed the military presence in the Gulf could be reduced to 10,000 by the end of the year.
Sir Michael also said that the army would require a large injection of cash to replace its stocks and enhance its capability for operations in the future.
However, he warned that the army would need time to recover and probably would not be in a position to deploy on a significant scale again for 12-18 months.
(GMcG)
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