38. Our previous Reports on UK operations in Iraq
have tended to focus on the land component. This has simply been
a consequence of the relative weight of numbers, but we noted
in our most recent Report on the subject that:
39. However, our focus was already being drawn
increasingly to the maritime component of UK operations with the
seizure by Iranian naval units of Royal Navy and Royal Marine
personnel in March 2007. In the wake of the hostage crisis, and
following the report on the matter by Lieutenant-General Sir Rob
Fulton, we conducted a private inquiry into the issue, and in
December 2007 published a Report, as well as writing in confidential
terms to the Secretary of State for Defence.[10]
Consequently, when we came to plan our visit to Iraq and the Gulf
in 2008, we were eager to include a greater concentration on UK
maritime activities in our programme.
40. We visited the Coalition Maritime Component Command
in Bahrain and met both Vice-Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, US Naval
Central Commander (USNAVCENT) and Commander of the US Fifth Fleet
(COMFIFTHFLT), and Commodore Keith Winstanley RN, UK Maritime
Component Commander (UKMCC) and Deputy Coalition Force Maritime
Component Commander (DCFMCC). They briefed us on the full scope
of Coalition naval operations in the Arabian Gulf.
41. The Arabian Gulf is covered by US Central Command
(CENTCOM), the area of responsibility (AOR) of which encompasses
27 countries.[11] The
supply and distribution of oil is a critical priority for CENTCOM,
given the relative vulnerability of the two Iraqi oil platforms
and the fact that the Arabian Gulf has certain obvious 'choke
points'. We were told by Vice-Admiral Cosgriff that NAVCENT's
primary focus is Iran, and that US relations with Iran were difficult,
but that there had been some progress made.
42. The mission of the UKMCC is to provide "tasking
and logistical support to RN Units within an operational area
of over 2.5 million square miles, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year".[12]
At the time of our visit, the UK provided the lead for two Coalition
Task Forces, CTF 158 (Northern Arabian Gulf) under the command
of Commodore Duncan Potts RN and CTF 152 (Central and Southern
Arabian Gulf) under the command of Commodore Peter Hudson RN.
43. CTF 158's area of responsibility includes the
ABOT and KAAOT oil platforms as well as the border between the
territorial waters of Iraq and Iran, and its efforts are focused
in the north-western corner of its AOR. Its work complements that
of the NaTT in pursuing the goal of a self-sufficient Iraqi Navy.
It is also engaged in demining operations, as well as attempting
to resolve the territorial disputes between Iraq and Iran. We
were told that the Iraqi Navy is increasingly capable and takes
the lead in perimeter defence at Umm Qasr, as well as contributing
Iraqi Marines to the defence of the oil platforms.
44. The work of UK and Coalition maritime forces
in the Northern Arabian Gulf is crucial to the security and economic
prosperity of Iraq, as well as to wider regional stability. We
pay tribute to the work that UK Service personnel are doing and
recognise the often difficult, sometimes dangerous and always
delicate nature of operations in the area.
9 HC (2007-08) 110, para 12 Back
10
HC (2007-08) 181 Back
11
Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran,
Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon,
Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan,
Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan,
and Yemen; however, all the countries in Africa with the exception
of Egypt will fall within the remit of the new US African Command
(AFRICOM) when it becomes active later in 2008. Back
12
www.mod.uk Back
