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UK weighs up troop numbers for return to Iraq UK weighs up troop numbers for return to Iraq
(about 1 hour later)
The UK’s national security council is to meet shortly to decide how many British troops to send back to Iraq to help combat the threat posed by Islamic State.The UK’s national security council is to meet shortly to decide how many British troops to send back to Iraq to help combat the threat posed by Islamic State.
The council, made up of cabinet ministers and the heads of the military and intelligence, will also discuss where the troops will be based.The council, made up of cabinet ministers and the heads of the military and intelligence, will also discuss where the troops will be based.
An estimated 100 to 200 are to be sent, mainly in a training role. But some will be combat troops, providing protection for the trainers.An estimated 100 to 200 are to be sent, mainly in a training role. But some will be combat troops, providing protection for the trainers.
An Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “No decisions on troop numbers, units or locations have yet been made”. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “No decisions on troop numbers, units or locations have yet been made”.
The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, said troop numbers would be in the low hundreds.The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, said troop numbers would be in the low hundreds.
The Iraqi army, though trained by the US, British and other allied forces before the final US withdrawal in 2011, collapsed in the face of advancing IS forces earlier this year as they took over much of northern and central Iraq.The Iraqi army, though trained by the US, British and other allied forces before the final US withdrawal in 2011, collapsed in the face of advancing IS forces earlier this year as they took over much of northern and central Iraq.
The British return to Iraq in a training role was announced in parliament last month but not the numbers or location.The British return to Iraq in a training role was announced in parliament last month but not the numbers or location.
There have been British troops in Iraq since September, based in Iraqi Kurdistan, mainly training its peshmerga militia force in the use of machine-guns. British special forces have also been in place to bolster the peshmerga, which at one point looked vulnerable in the face of Isis attacks.There have been British troops in Iraq since September, based in Iraqi Kurdistan, mainly training its peshmerga militia force in the use of machine-guns. British special forces have also been in place to bolster the peshmerga, which at one point looked vulnerable in the face of Isis attacks.
British troops formally left Iraq in 2009 ahead of the US.British troops formally left Iraq in 2009 ahead of the US.
The Obama administration initially hoped that it could defeat Isis by air power but so has has only been able to contain it, not roll it back, which would require troops on the ground. The Obama administration initially hoped that it could defeat Isis by air power but so far has only been able to contain it, not roll it back, which would require troops on the ground.
The US announced in November it was to send 1,500 American trainers to Iraq, teaching at four centres, one in Kurdistan and three others round Baghdad. The UK could be based at one or all of them.The US announced in November it was to send 1,500 American trainers to Iraq, teaching at four centres, one in Kurdistan and three others round Baghdad. The UK could be based at one or all of them.
There are fears that sending in British troops as trainers will lead to mission creep, such as sending them to accompany Iraqi forces into combat , or eventually back into combat.There are fears that sending in British troops as trainers will lead to mission creep, such as sending them to accompany Iraqi forces into combat , or eventually back into combat.
Fallon told the Telegraph: “Our role now, apart from the air strikes, is increasingly going to be on training. In particular, it will mean dealing with car and truck bombs and roadside devices, as well as basic infantry skills.Fallon told the Telegraph: “Our role now, apart from the air strikes, is increasingly going to be on training. In particular, it will mean dealing with car and truck bombs and roadside devices, as well as basic infantry skills.
“We have not finalised numbers yet – obviously we have got a lot of kit back from Afghanistan that we can make available – but we are talking very low hundreds.”“We have not finalised numbers yet – obviously we have got a lot of kit back from Afghanistan that we can make available – but we are talking very low hundreds.”
The UK pulled out of Afghanistan this year. The British contribution to Iraq is part of an effort by the US government to put together an international force to return to Iraq, initially at least in a training role.The German government announced on Thursday it is to send 100 soldiers to Iraqi Kurdistan. The UK pulled out of Afghanistan this year. The British contribution to Iraq is part of an effort by the US government to put together an international force to return to Iraq, initially at least in a training role. The German government announced on Thursday it is to send 100 soldiers to Iraqi Kurdistan.
The opposition Labour defence spokesman, Vernon Coaker, said Labour supported the assistance to the Iraqi government but asked for clarity about the scale, scope and timeframe of the deployment.The opposition Labour defence spokesman, Vernon Coaker, said Labour supported the assistance to the Iraqi government but asked for clarity about the scale, scope and timeframe of the deployment.