I can’t even begin to articulate the sheer nonsense and comedic absurdity of trying to count members of ISIS killed in RAF airstrikes but someone asked. A recent Freedom of Information Act Request (FOI) asked; I would like to know…
At what point does the legitimate self-defence become an extra-judicial murder? That seems to be the question of the day, with predictably opposing views The justification came in the simple form of they were planning to kill civilians in…
One of the greatest problems with UK defence and security policy is the complete and utter disconnect between aspirations and reality. Having successively cut the UK defence budget and failed to control the inexorable rise of defence equipment costs the…
The big news today is that British pilots on exchange with the United States Navy (and possibly Canadian forces) have been conducting operations over Syria. Now we all know personnel exchanges between allies are run of the mill, mundane business…
The UK’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) launched on 01 April 2015. This new funding instrument has replaced the Conflict (Prevention) Pool. The UK has allocated CSS Funds for Iraq. The CSSF is one part of a broader approach…
The area around Umm Qasr and the Al Faw peninsula in Iraq featured a range of amphibious and mine clearance activities in 2003. Background The port of Umm Qasr, before the conflict, was responsible for two-thirds of the United Nations…
Below is an extract from a recent MoD update on RAF operations over Iraq; 25 January: a Reaper was once again on patrol over northern Iraq on Sunday, providing top cover to the peshmerga as they consolidated their latest successful…
Members of the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria, political and defence commentators, and retired military figures have been talking about ‘boots on the ground’
A collection of images and videos from Operation SHADER, the UK operation against ISIS, in Iraq. RAF Tornado aircraft armed with Paveway IV precision guided bombs and supported by Voyager tankers have conducted a number of armed recce missions over…
