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29/04/2008
British Troops Deploy To Kosovo
Against a background of a huge military commitment to Iraq and also to Afghanistan, the Defence Secretary has announced that hundreds more British troops will now be deployed to another location, Kosovo.
Des Browne told parliament today that soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, will deploy to Kosovo as part of the UK commitment to the NATO/EU shared pan-Balkans Operational Reserve Force (ORF).
Mr Browne said: "This deployment will demonstrate our commitment to the security of the region, and will provide NATO with extra flexibility in maintaining peace and stability for all communities within Kosovo."
It has been the UK's turn to provide the highest readiness Battalion for a period of six months to the ORF.
The Defence Secretary added: "The House will also wish to be aware that our commitment to the NATO/EU pan-Balkans ORF continues until the end of this year at a lower readiness.
"I would like to stress that the deployment of the UK ORF Battalion confirms yet again the professionalism of our Armed Forces and their ability to provide essential military support at short notice. I shall make a further statement on this deployment in due course, if required."
The presence of 2 Rifles will help to reassure all communities within Kosovo that the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) maintains its commitment to preserving peace and stability. There are currently just 150 British troops in Kosovo.
However, the army is going to be hard-stretched to make the move. It has been reported that the armed forces are already 3,500 under-strength and that the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt said in a leaked memo to fellow defence leaders that "we have almost no capability to reach to the unexpected".
The Government of Kosovo declared independence on 17 January 2008.
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Des Browne told parliament today that soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, will deploy to Kosovo as part of the UK commitment to the NATO/EU shared pan-Balkans Operational Reserve Force (ORF).
Mr Browne said: "This deployment will demonstrate our commitment to the security of the region, and will provide NATO with extra flexibility in maintaining peace and stability for all communities within Kosovo."
It has been the UK's turn to provide the highest readiness Battalion for a period of six months to the ORF.
The Defence Secretary added: "The House will also wish to be aware that our commitment to the NATO/EU pan-Balkans ORF continues until the end of this year at a lower readiness.
"I would like to stress that the deployment of the UK ORF Battalion confirms yet again the professionalism of our Armed Forces and their ability to provide essential military support at short notice. I shall make a further statement on this deployment in due course, if required."
The presence of 2 Rifles will help to reassure all communities within Kosovo that the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) maintains its commitment to preserving peace and stability. There are currently just 150 British troops in Kosovo.
However, the army is going to be hard-stretched to make the move. It has been reported that the armed forces are already 3,500 under-strength and that the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt said in a leaked memo to fellow defence leaders that "we have almost no capability to reach to the unexpected".
The Government of Kosovo declared independence on 17 January 2008.
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18 March 2004
Troops destined for Kosovo peacekeeping force
The Ministry of Defence is preparing to send an additional 750 troops to Kosovo. The move comes on a call from Nato requesting that the KFOR peacekeeping force be strengthened in the face of continuing ethnic unrest in the area of former Yugoslavia.
Troops destined for Kosovo peacekeeping force
The Ministry of Defence is preparing to send an additional 750 troops to Kosovo. The move comes on a call from Nato requesting that the KFOR peacekeeping force be strengthened in the face of continuing ethnic unrest in the area of former Yugoslavia.
01 March 2004
UN stabilising force to deploy to Haiti 'immediately'
A UN peacekeeping force will be dispatched "immediately" to the troubled Caribbean island of Haiti following the resignation and subsequent departure of its president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the Security Council has confirmed.
UN stabilising force to deploy to Haiti 'immediately'
A UN peacekeeping force will be dispatched "immediately" to the troubled Caribbean island of Haiti following the resignation and subsequent departure of its president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the Security Council has confirmed.
25 August 2004
UK to deploy troops and aircraft to Afghanistan
The UK is deploying ground attack aircraft to Afghanistan for the first time in the current campaign, it has been announced today. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said that the RAF will deploy six RAF Harrier GR7 aircraft under coalition control to Kandahar, Afghanistan, for an initial period of nine months.
UK to deploy troops and aircraft to Afghanistan
The UK is deploying ground attack aircraft to Afghanistan for the first time in the current campaign, it has been announced today. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said that the RAF will deploy six RAF Harrier GR7 aircraft under coalition control to Kandahar, Afghanistan, for an initial period of nine months.
19 March 2004
Nato reinforcements arrive in Kosovo
As the initial deployments of additional KFOR troops arrive in the region, the Nato Council was meeting again today to re-assess the security situation in Kosovo. In an effort to bring the outbreak of ethnic violence under control as quickly as possible, additional troops from the operational and strategic reserve were being deployed.
Nato reinforcements arrive in Kosovo
As the initial deployments of additional KFOR troops arrive in the region, the Nato Council was meeting again today to re-assess the security situation in Kosovo. In an effort to bring the outbreak of ethnic violence under control as quickly as possible, additional troops from the operational and strategic reserve were being deployed.
28 September 2009
Welsh Soldier Killed In Helmand
A soldier from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh has been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan. The soldier died in a blast while on vehicle patrol in the Musa Qal'eh District in northern Helmand Province at the weekend and his death means 218 British soldiers have now died during the war in Afghanistan.
Welsh Soldier Killed In Helmand
A soldier from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh has been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan. The soldier died in a blast while on vehicle patrol in the Musa Qal'eh District in northern Helmand Province at the weekend and his death means 218 British soldiers have now died during the war in Afghanistan.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
