STUTTGART, Germany — The British Defence Secretary met with counterparts from 10 countries in the
Global Coalition against Daesh last week to review recent progress and
consider further steps to accelerate the campaign .
During the counter-Daesh Coalition meeting held in Stuttgart, Defence
Secretary Michael Fallon will announce that the UK will consider a
further training and advisory package to help Iraqi ground forces tackle
the terrorist organisation. This builds on the most recent deployment,
in March, of additional personnel to provide training in areas such as
bridge building as well as specialist medical staff.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
"Make no mistake - Iraqi forces have Daesh on the
back foot and are retaking territory, hitting its finances and striking
its leadership. 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."
Further support will enhance the UK’s leading role in the fight
against Daesh. The RAF has carried out the second highest number of
strikes in Iraq and, since it obtained permission for air strikes, in
Syria. In Besmaya, Erbil, Taji and the Al Asad Air Base in Anbar
Province, UK personnel are training Iraqi and Kurdish Security Forces in
infantry skills, Counter-IED and combat medical techniques.
The meeting, attended by US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, French
Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian and German Minister of Defence
Dr. Ursula Von der Leyen as well as representatives from Australia,
Italy, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain, also
provided an opportunity to review support to the Kurdish Regional
Government. The Defence Secretary announced that Britain plans to
provide Kurdish Peshmerga fighters with a further £1 million worth of
ammunition.
The UK Government has already gifted over 50 tonnes of non-lethal
equipment, nearly half a million rounds of ammunition, 1000
counter-Improvised Explosive Device (c-IED) Vallon detectors and has
delivered over 300 tonnes of weapons and equipment on behalf of other
nations. This latest package will consist of sniper rounds and will
replenish stocks of ammunition for the heavy machine guns, also gifted
by the UK. British military personnel have also trained over 3400
Peshmerga troops as they play a key role in this fight.
The Defence Ministers will also talk about the spread of Daesh and Mr
Fallon will lead the discussion on improving governance and
transregional co-ordination to combat violent extremism and its links to
wider instability including illegal migration, crime networks and
weapons smuggling. Highlighting the importance of political direction
and military management of the global campaign against Daesh, he said:
"As Daesh is hit hard in Iraq and Syria, it is
seeking to spread to North Africa, the Arabian peninsula, the Caucuses,
South East Asia and beyond. To counter this threat and protect our
streets means working more closely together to tackle its franchise,
wherever it appears."