700 Irish troops prepare for Gulf deployment

Up to 700 troops from Irish regiments are on their way to the Gulf region after the Defence Secretary announced the largest single deployment of British troops since the Falklands War in 1982.

In the Commons yesterday, Geoff Hoon revealed that 26,000 soldiers will be moved into the area in order to levy further pressure against the Iraqi government. They will join the 3 Commando Brigade who are already heading out to Middle East.

The Royal Irish Regiment and the Irish Guards, which form parts of the 16 Air Assault Brigade and the Armoured Division respectively, will set out in the next few days.

In total the British government has now committed over 31,000 troops – or one quarter of its entire strength. This is, however, a comparatively modest move in relation to the US build up in the area which tops nearly 200,000 men.

The force which will be deployed to the Gulf includes Headquarters 1 (UK) Armoured Division with support from 7th Armoured Brigade, 16 Air Assault Brigade and 102 Logistics Brigade.

The masses of equipment needed for the deployment includes 120 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks, 150 Warrior Armoured Personnel Carriers, 32 AS 90 Self-Propelled Guns, 18 Light Guns, and a number of reconnaissance and other vehicles.

Announcing the decision, Mr Hoon said: "In the coming weeks, we will also need to call out additional reservists in support of these land forces. The details of our overall reservist requirement are continuing to evolve, and I expect to be able to provide further information on this in due course."

The government has maintained its position that while Saddam Hussein should disarm voluntarily, Mr Hoon said it would not be achieved "this way unless we continue to present him with a clear and credible threat of force".

He added: "That is why I have announced these deployments - in support of the diplomatic process to which we remain fully committed. It is not too late for Saddam Hussein to recognise the will of the international community and respect United Nations resolutions. Let us all hope that he does so."

The initial report from Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix is due on January 27, however, the government has been wary of regarding it as a make-or-break date for find a 'smoking gun'.

Yesterday, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw voiced his approval of a suggestion from US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld – the most hawkish of the President's advisors – that the Iraqi governing elite (including Saddam Hussein) could seek voluntary exile in a friendly country. Such a move could act a breakstop to war, which with this latest British commitment, looks to be near unavoidable. Some commentators have suggested with election year in the US, it would be hard for President Bush to withdraw from the region without committing his forces.

(GMcG)