The Implementation of Operation Shader Against DAESH (2014-2016)

The United Kingdom’s Conduct of War in Iraq and Syria: The Implementation of Operation Shader against DAESH (2014-2016)

By Muhammad Arief ID No. 016201300169

A Thesis presented to the Faculty of Humanities President University in partial Fulfillment of the requirements of Bachelor’s Degree in International Relation Specialization in Security, Defense, and Strategic Studies

2017

THESIS ADVISER RECOMMENDATION LETTER

This thesis titled “The United Kingdom’s Conduct of War in Iraq and Syria: The Implementation of Operation Shader against DAESH (2014-2016)” prepared and submitted by Muhammad Arief in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in International Relations in the Faculty of Humanities as it has been reviewed and found to have satisfied the requirements for a thesis fit to be examined. I therefore recommend this thesis for Oral Defense.

Cikarang, Indonesia, May 2017

______

DR. Endi Haryono,M.Si.

DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY

I declare that this thesis, titled “The United Kingdom’s Conduct of War in Iraq and Syria: The Implementation of Operation Shader against DAESH (2014-2016)” is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, an original piece of work that has not been submitted, either in whole or in part, to another university to obtain a degree.

Cikarang, Indonesia, May 2017

______

Muhammad Arief

PANEL OF EXAMINER

APPROVAL

The Panel of Examiners declare that the thesis entitled “The United Kingdom’s Conduct of War in Iraq and Syria: The Implementation of Operation Shader against DAESH (2014-2016)” that was submitted by Muhammad Arief, majoring in International Relations from the School of Humanities was assessed and approved to have passed the Oral Examinations on June 2nd , 2017.

Prof. Anak Agung Banyu Perwita, Ph.D. Chair – Panel of Examiner

Indra Alverdian, S.S, MSi.

Thesis Co-Adviser – Examiner

DR. Endi Haryono,M.Si. Thesis Adviser

iii ABSTRACT

Muhammad Arief, 016201300169, The United Kingdom’s Conduct of War in Iraq and Syria: The Implementation of Operation Shader against DAESH (2014-2016)

Advisors: DR. Endi Haryono,M.Si. And Indra Alverdian, S.S, MSi.

The conflict in Syria and Iraq has taken a new level with the involvement of a new actor,DAESH. The arrival of DAESH in the civil war of Iraq and Syria brought Tyranny into the chaos. The United Kingdom along with its global coalition, took to the war against DAESH in September 2014, under the military strategy codenamed: Operation Shader. The military campaign in Iraq and Syria is just one aspect of that broader strategy which also includes measures to restrict the flow of foreign fighters, stop foreign financing, provide humanitarian assistance to Iraq and Syria and strategic communications (propaganda, public diplomacy and psychological operations) intended to counter ISIS’ ideology. The terror group is still ravaging around in the aforementioned states. This thesis aims to explain UK’s military strategy operation against DAESH in Iraq and Syria as well as finding the comparison of the implementation of the strategy between those states.

Keywords: Military Intervention, Airstrike, United Kingdom,

DAESH, Iraq, Syria

ABSTRAK

Muhammad Arief, 016201300169, The United Kingdom’s Conduct of War in Iraq and Syria: The Implementation of Operation Shader against DAESH (2014-2016)

Pembimbing: DR. Endi Haryono,M.Si. and Indra Alverdian, S.S, MSi.

Konflik di Suriah dan Irak telah mencapai tingkat baru dengan keterlibatan aktor baru, DAESH. Kedatangan DAESH dalam perang saudara Irak dan Suriah membawa Tirani ke dalam kekacauan. Inggris bersama dengan koalisi global lainya, melakukan perang perlawanan terhadap DAESH pada bulan September 2014, dengan strategi militer dengan initial: Operation Shader. Kampanye militer di Irak dan Suriah hanyalah satu aspek dari strategi yang lebih luas yang juga mencakup langkah- langkah untuk membatasi arus pejuang asing, menghentikan pembiayaan luar negeri, memberikan bantuan kemanusiaan ke Irak dan Suriah dan komunikasi strategis (propaganda, diplomasi publik dan operasi psikologis), yang dimaksudkan untuk melawan ideologi DAESH. Kelompok teror masih merosot di negara-negara tersebut. Tesis ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan implementasi operasi strategi militer Inggris melawan DAESH di Irak dan Suriah serta menemukan perbandingan pelaksanaan strategi antara negara-negara tersebut.

Kata Kunci: Intervensi Militer, Serangan Udara, Inggris

DAESH, Irak, Suriah

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

At last the moment that I have been waiting for is finally show up. The moment when I finish this thesis and show to the examiner that I am capable to deserve the title Muhammad Arief BA.IR. I am definitely cannot make it without their great support in helping me to finish this Thesis.

First of all I would like to start my gratitude by giving thanks to the Almighty God, Allah SWT, for without his blessing and grace, I would have never been born, I cannot feel how beautiful is this world, I cannot feel how great it is to have family, I also cannot meet all those idiots in President University and etc.

Second I would like to express a tremendous gratitude’s to my parents, who never forget me always remind me to pray, who always listen to all my problems. I do believe without their support this thesis would be impossible to accomplish. There were not any words that can express my feeling how lucky I am that has parents like them.

Third I would like to thank my fist advisor Mr.Endi Haryono. Who amazingly show his skills in teaching me how the thesis should be done. Without his continuous optimism concerning to my thesis, enthusiasm, encouragement and support this thesis would hardly have been completed. I also express my warmest gratitude to my other advisor Mr.Indra Alverdia who make realizes how important knowledge is. He taught me a lot about the defense policy and war as well. Their help are also an essential support that made me finish my thesis. I wish that I can be like them someday. And I am really proud to call them my lectures.

I owe my deepest gratitude to Commander in Chief in Prodigy Empire Rama Adianto Supriyadi and the 3rd division commander in Warlord stronghold Gabriel Partogi Shihombing. Who always encouraged me to finish my thesis. They become my

walking google and the most important thing is they believe that I am a true genius, even I am not confident to be called a genius. But they never stopped to believe in my potential. And for the sake of everyone that believe in me I cannot fail in this Thesis. Fortunately I admit because of them I can enter the ZONE, as the result I can finish my thesis on time. And also special thanks to Maitri who help me a lot in creating this thesis, without her I would say that it is impossible for me to finish this on time.

Last but not least I would like to extend my thanks to all of my friends of IR Presuniv 2013, especially my subordinated in Prodigy Empired:Jeff, Dwiki, Zakaria, Zizi, Dastin Dimaz, Yesua Andrew, Abdul, Mae, Jasmine and Faghfirly. For all of the fun and sad moments we shared together. If I may the honor to list all of memories that we have done together here, the entirety of this thesis would just be story about us. I hope the graduation ceremony that held in 22nd of July would not be the last time we meet.

Cikarang, May 26th, 2017

Muhammad Arief

vii

TABLE OF CONTENT

THESIS ADVISER RECOMMENDATION LETTER ...... i

DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY ...... ii PANEL OF EXAMINER APPROVAL…………………………………………...iii ABSTRACT ...... iv

ABSTRAK ...... iv

ACKNOWLRDGEMENT………………………………………………………….vi

TABLE OF CONTENT…………………………………………………………...viii

LIST OF FIGURES ...... x

LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………………xi

CHAPTER I

I.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ...... 1

I.2. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION...... 2

I.3. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM ...... 3

I.4. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE ...... 4

I.5. SIGNIFICANT OF STUDY ...... 4

I.6. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ...... 4

I.6.1. STRUCTURAL REALISM ...... 4

I.6.2. THREAT PERCEPTION...... 6

I.6.3. MILITARY INTERVENTION ...... 7 1.6.3.1 MILITARY OPERATION...... 9

I.7. SCOPE AND LIMITATION STUDY………………………………………...10

I.8. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY……………………………………………..10

I.9. STRUCTURE OF THESIS ...... 11

CHAPTER II

II.1. IRAQ ...... 12

II.2. BACKGROUND OF THE CONFLICT IN SYRIA ...... 13

II.2.1. ACTORS INVOLVED IN SYARIA CIVIL WAR ...... 14

II.2.2. FOREIGN COUNTRIES ...... 15 viii

II.3. THE ORIGINS OF DAESH ...... 19

II.3.1. POLITICAL INSECURITY AND GEOGRAPHICAL ASPECT ..... 21

II.3.2. THE ESCALATION OF DAESH IN IRAQ AND SYRIA ...... 23

II.3.3. DAESH AFFLIATES ...... 25

II.3.4. DAESH THREAT TOWARD UK’S NATIONAL SECURITY ...... 28

CHAPTER III

III.1. UK NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY AND STRATEGIC DEFENCE AND SECURITY REVIEW: AN OVERVIEW ...... 30

III.1.1. DEVELOPMENT OF UK DEFENCE POLICY ...... 31

III.1.2. ANTI-TERRORISM/EXTREMISM POLICY ...... 33

III.2. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST ...... 36

III.2.1. US LED COALITION EFFORT IN COMBATING DAESH ...... 37

III.2.2. CONTRIBUTION OF GLOBAL COALITION MEMBERS ...... 38

III.2.3. BRITISH’S NATIONAL INTEREST IN THE COMPAIGN AGAINST DAESH ...... 41

CHAPTER IV

IV.1. UK TROOPS DEPLOYMENT TRAIN AND EQUIP STRATEGIES IN OPERATION SHADER IN IRAQ AND SYRIA ...... 44

IV.1.1.TROOPS DEPLOYED TO IRAQ: TRAIN AND EQUIP ISF ...... 44

IV.1.2. TROOPS DEPLOYED TO SYRIA: TRAIN AND EQUIP SYRIA OPPOSITION ...... 46

IV.2. ASSETS OF EQUIPMENT IN OPERATION SHADER IN IRAQ AND SYRIA ...... 49

IV.2.1. MILITARY EQUIPEMENT IN OPERATION SHADER IN IRAQ …………………………………………………………………………51

IV.2.2. MILITARY EQUIPEMENT IN OPERATION SHADER IN SYRIA …………………………………………………………………………53

IV.3. UK AIRSTRIKES IN IRAQ AND SYRIA UNDER OPERATION SHADER...... 54

IV.4. SUMMARY AND PROGRESS OF OPERATION SHADER ...... 59

CHAPTER V ...... 67

BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 69

LIST OF FIGURES

1. MAP DATA ...... 22

2. THE DAESH PRESENCE AND ATTACK ...... 24

3. THE GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD OF DAESH- AFFILIATED GROUPS ... 25

4. UNITED KINDOM DEFENCE SPENDING 2000-2017...... 31

5. TOP 15 GLOBAL MILITARY EXPENDITURE ...... 32

6. DAESH CONTROLLED TERRITORY ...... 61

7. TERRITORIAL CONTROL OF WAR AGAINTS DAESH...... 62

8. TERRITORIAL MAPS ...... 65

LIST OF TABLES

1. DAESH ‘WILAYAT’ DEMONSTRATING THE GEOGRAPHICAL REACH OF THE ORGANIZATION ...... 28

2. UK TROOPS IN IRAQ ...... 46

3. UK TROOPS IN SYRIA ...... 47

4. UK ASSET AVAILABLE TO THE COALITION...... 50

5. UK ASSETS OF EQUIPMENT IN IRAQ...... 52

6. UK MILITARY EQUIPMENT SENT TO SYRIA ...... 54

7. NUMBER OF UK AIRSTRIKES AGAINTS DAESH IN IRAQ AND SYRIA ...... 55

8. COMPARISON OF UK AIRSTRIKES AND COALITION AIRSTRIKES ….. 58

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

I.1. Background of the Study

The birth of DAESH has successfully got the international attentions. It made the international organizations worried about the existence of this extremist group. The international organization presume this organization as an extreme threat. Unlike some other extremist which focus on spreading fear, terror and small amount of attack. DAESH aim even a bigger goals. Which is to take over the territory in some places in order to create Islamic caliphate around the world. Although they were focusing on Syria and Iraq at the moment. That is why the DAESH was considered more dangerous than Al Qaeda. DAESH proved their terror intend after taking over Mosul. Then they keep continue to destroy the border in Iraq and Syria. After they gather a lot of city in Iraq and Syria, in June 2014, they establish Islamic caliphate.1

After recognizing the threat that posed by DAESH, many countries especially United Kingdom join the campaign to battle DAESH. The first country who propose to created military coalition was US, thus US was appointed as the leader of coalition. As the leader of the coalition United Stated individually launch the airstrike in August 2014. 2 UK also help its ally by providing the airstrike as well in following month. Unfortunately the outcome battle is not satisfactory enough. The battle between them seems has a long way to go. While DAESH become greater and sturdier, it seems the member of coalition should come with a better

1 Mark Than, "Isis Announces Islamic Caliphate in Area Straddling Iraq and Syria | World News | The Guardian," The Guardian, last modified June 30, 2014,

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/30/isis-announces-islamic-caliphate-iraq-syria. 2 Martin Chulov and Paul Lewis, "US Launches Air Strikes against Isis Targets in Syria | World News | The Guardian," The Guardian, last modified September 23, 2014,.

strategy. The global coalition also made a good cooperation with the Kurdish armies to battle DAESH on the specifically on the ground. In order to strengthen their bond and gain their trust. The global coalition has provided them with weapons.

1.2 Problem Identification

UK returned in high alert after the attack in Paris, and then in Brussels. Especially after the intelligence apparatus in Iraq revealed, based on information from sources in Raqqa, which became the center of the DAESH caliphate in Syria, that DAESH terror groups has been planning terror attacks in Europe for a long time.3 Security authorities in the UK along with other Western countries have publicly announced increased security at various post-invasion public facilities in Brussels. DAESH is eager to target "Westerners", whether they are in airports, train stations, government offices, and other vital objects in their attacks. Either it is outside Europe or mainly in Europe, including United Kingdom. The royal state is one of the European countries that DAESH hate the most. Because their involvement in various wars against terrorism, including a coalition of US air strikes against ISIS in Iraq as well as in Syria.

Even though long before the incident of the terror attacks in Paris in November 2015 and in Brussels in March 2016, London was already worried that one day Britain would be attacked. British Prime Minister David Cameron at the time, believed, DAESH, whether in Syria or Iraq was planning a major attack, and make Britain as one of the main targets. Mr David Cameron warned all Western countries and his citizen to keep on guard.4 UK’s government also aware with its people as

3 Sam Jones, "Intelligence Agencies Fight to Unravel Isis Network in Europe," Financial Times, last modified March 28, 2016, https://www.ft.com/content/20152f82-f35c-11e5-96db-fc683b5e52db. 4 Lucy Crossley, "David Cameron Says 'we Must Be Prepared for British Casualties' from Paris Attacks | Daily Mail Online," Mail Online, last modified November 14, 2015, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3318273/We-help-David-Cameron-chair-emergency-Cobra- meeting-Paris-attacks-British-nationals-France-warned-stay-indoors.html.

well, because some citizen went to Iraq and Syria to join DAESH. Approximately there were 850 people from UK that have gone to assist or fight along DAESH in Syria and Iraq. And apparently UK succeed return almost half of them. 5 the last problem that writer found is the strategy of DAESH used against the global coalition, which is Guerilla warfare that made all the global coalition members seem had difficulties to fight.

The writer decided to choose, The United Kingdom’s Conduct of War in Iraq and Syria: The Implementation of Operation Shader against DAESH (2014- 2016)as the main topic because this issue is interesting and challenging to be analyzed. This issue is discussing about how the UK try to respond regarding the threat of DAESH what kind of strategy and military operation that the UK used? As we know there are so many conflicts that happened in this Middle East. And most of the scholar including me also prefer that the conflict that happened in Middle East could be said as the most complex conflicts in the world. It was really hard to solve this problem but in the opposite way it was really the easiest way to explained. The other reasons why the writer chose this topics because this topics show the military strategy in combating and the extremist groups

1.3 Statement of problem

As I have already explained in section 1 and 2, this thesis will try to explain and analyze the implementation of UK military operation and strategy in combatting DAESH, the challenges that UK faced so far and as well as elaborating the comparison military strike between Iraq and Syria. Hence, the main question of this thesis is

How is the implementation of UK military operation In Combatting DAESH in Syria and Iraq?

5 Who Are Britain’s Jihadists?," BBC News, last modified February 22, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-32026985.

1.4 Research Objectives

 To gain deeper understanding about UK defense policy and UK military  operation s in Syria and Iraq.  Explain and describe the UK Military operation (Operation Shader) against DAESH.   Analyze regarding the Impleme ntation of UK military Operation (Operation  Shader) in Iraq and Syria. 1.5 Significance of Study

The writer believes that this thesis will provide significant advantages for scholars that has interested in war that occur Middle East region, policy makers, and military operation in war, this thesis hopes to provide the elaboration of:

- Provide the explanation regarding the threat of DAESH in Middle East, especially Iraq and Syria; and United Kingdom national security.

- Provide a satisfactory analysis on British’s national interest in the campaign against DAESH, as well as the national security strategy and Strategic Defence of UK in order to give a deep understanding about the implementation of the UK Military operation.

1.6 Theoretical Framework

1.6.1 Structural Realism

Also known as neorealism, structural realism was introduced as a modern form the classical realism by Kenneth Waltz (1979) in his book

Theory of International Politics. Unlike classical that concern more about the nature of state, structural paid attention only about the form or structure

of the unobservable world. 6Neorealism, alongside with neoliberalism have dominated international relations theory of the last decade and become one of the most influential contemporary approach to international relations study cases.

Anarchy is still considered by structural realist as the nature of international system. Social realist believed in a deeper anarchy where the absence of order, rules, and higher authority above states level created greater insecurities and wider threat perception than anarchy by classical realist. While being unnoticed on other state’s interest, lack of trust between states increase as what is called by security dilemma. Thus, self-rely and independent have become the modern states nature as the driving force for survival also increase. As sovereign state is formally equal in an anarchic system, states act to the interest of their own without subordinating the interest of others. Modern states believed then that the only party that can ensure the state’s national interest is none else than itself.

The biggest difference between classical and structural realism can be seen from how states perceive the nature of power and threat. In classical realism, the distribution of capabilities or state’s pursuit for power is seen as a greed behavior of human being, and security is between states only. While, structural realist sees state’s pursuit for power is not from greed but a response to the international system, and security involves between not only states anymore but between the level of human, environmental, national, transitional, and transcultural.

6 Jo Jakobsen, "Neorealism in International Relations – Kenneth Waltz," POPULAR SOCIAL SCIENCE, last modified November 6, 2013, http://www.popularsocialscience.com/2013/11/06/neorealism- in-international-relations-kenneth-waltz/.

1.6.2 Threat Perception

Threat perception has become a major theory in the theories of war. Before the writer explain more about threat perception. The writer tend to give the definition of threat and perception. Basically threat can be categorized as verbal and physical. Basically Verbal threat are a statement that was designed to show the intention to cause harm if the needs are not granted. Commonly the verbal types took a statement form. For instance if you do not obey my command, I will definitely behead the victims. The deterrent threat need the target to be threatened, if the target did not grant what the blackmailer’s desire than they will begin do the action that might give the target the disadvantages. The leaders in country or province did not used verbally all the times, most of the time he/she will send his/her representatives to warn their people. According to psychologist perception is the impression that obtained by the individual through the five senses and then analyzed (organized), interpreted and then evaluated, so that the individual gets a meaning of it.

Threat perception is the variable influence the action and reaction in the international system cycle. Threat can equally be and not be perceived by states. When it is not perceived as a threat, even though with the presence of evidence, there can be no defensive act. Equally, in the phenomenon of surprise, state can perceive threat, defensive act is allowed to be taken, even without the presence of evidence or even when the opponent possess no intention at all.

Theories of war like deterrence and alliances is some of theories branch from threat perception. Traditional threat is only perceived by states capabilities over military power. Under the notion to adapt to the current international environment, threat perceives by states now deals more than just military power. It expands into the threats towards transnational security

7 such as organized crime, terrorism, and human trafficking. Terrorism can be perceived as a threat towards international security if:

 Targeting foreign people or foreign state.    Operated collectively by more than one state’s government or fraction.    Targeted to influence foreign policy of another state’s government. 

UK’s state behavior is adopting structural realism, so goes also how it perceived threat. The transnational threat that terrorist spread in the Middle East is in a way perceived as a threat toward the global security. Hence, countries outside the region is getting itself involved in the war. ISIS has fulfilled the requirement to be determined as a threat towards the international security. With structural realism, it is then clear what UK perceive as their threat and how justifiable it is for UK to be involved in the war against ISIS.

1.6.3 Military Intervention

There are many forms of military intervention. In old times, military force was used for merely achieving state’s geopolitical goals over territory, population and other resources. Military force was rare to be used for conflict resolution purpose. At most, it was used for humanitarian purpose in peacekeeping operations but never intended to resolve the conflict once and for all. But, after the cold war, more military force is used in disaster relief operations and in a far more active peacemaking operations which could end conflict.

The researcher believed that the military intervention that UK is adopting is linked to the structural realism theory, which is the military

7 GCSP. (n.d.). Terrorism and Organised Crime - GCSP. Retrieved from http://www.gcsp.ch/Topics-Initiatives/Emerging-Security-Challenges-Programme/Terrorism-and- Organised-Crime

intervention under the international system of multipolarity. A military intervention that do not only involves two states, but more into a global coalition. This is supported fully by structural realist as it goes with modern states behavior.

"Neorealism answers questions: Why the modern states system has persisted in the face of attempts by certain states at dominance; why war among great powers recurred over centuries; and why states often find cooperation hard. In addition, the book forwarded one more specific theory: that great-power war would tend to be more frequent in multipolarity (an international system shaped by the power of three or more major states) than bipolarity (an international system shaped by two major states, or superpowers)."

While modern states rely on itself, threat is in between more aspects, and either war or peace is a part of state seeking power is the response to the international system. In a bipolarity, it is more difficult for state to rely on itself because of the interdependency to the one and only other party. In a multipolarity, it gives more option for state to choose which party is more favorable to pursue cooperation, while still prioritize its national interest. That makes multipolarity international system in cooperation like the UN, in military intervention like the global coalition against ISIS, and in war like cold war between U.S. and Russia are more famous and last longer as it is more favorable for self-rely state’s behavior. In the peace or cooperation practical form of neorealism, is the UK in securing its national interest and respond to threat, instead of going alone, it chooses to do a military intervention by joining the global coalition.

8 1.6.3.1 Military Operation

Technically military operation is an organized military actions of a state, or a non- state actor, in responding to jeopardy situation. These actions were considered as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of a battle or non-battle nature and are referred by a code name for the purpose of national security. Military operations are also known for their joint usage names than their actual operational goals. Military operations can be categorized by the scale and scope of force employment, and their influence on the extensive conflict. The scope of military operations can be:  Theater: is an area or place in which important military events occur or are progressing. A theater can include the entirety of the air space, land and sea area that is or that may potentially become involved in war operations.  Campaign: is to attain a particular preferred resolution of military problem as its strategic goal. This is controlled by resources, and geography. A campaign is measured relatively to the technology used by the belligerents to reach goals.  Battle: is a combat in war between two or more armed forces, or fighters. A warfare sometimes consists of many clashes. Battles usually are well defined in duration, area, and force commitment.  Engagement: it is a battle between two forces, neither larger than a partition nor not smaller than a corporation, in which each has given or perceived mission. An engagement originates when the attacking force pledgees combat in pursuit of its task, and ends when the enemy has accomplished the mission, or ceases to try to achieve the mission, or when one or both sides receive satisfactory reinforcements, thus starting a new engagement.

Military operations are always very important for every country in the world. The need for military power is always evident for many reasons, for instance: safeguarding the borders, confronting global threats and employment for humanitarian intervention.

9 1.7 Scope of Limitation

This thesis is primarily concerned on the arrival of DAESH in Iraq and Syria in 2014-2016 and the global coalition strategy in combating DAESH. The key actor in thesis is UK and this thesis will at the international collaboration between UK and the other members of global coalition. And also this thesis will focus on the implementation of the UK’s military strategy operation.

1.8 Research Methodology

This thesis apply the Qualitative method to elaborate the phenomena that happen in Syria and Iraq, identifying the defense policy and the strategy of UK in combatting DAESH to answer the research question. Here is the explanation of Qualitative research method by University of North Dakota:

“Qualitative research is an inductive approach, and its goal is to gain a deeper understanding of a person's or group's experience. According to Ross (1999), qualitative approaches to research are based on a "world view" which is holistic and has the following beliefs: 1) there is not a single reality. 2) Reality based upon perceptions that are different for each person and change over time. 3) What we know has meaning only within a given situation of context. Qualitative research does not necessarily mean interpretive. It can be used in different paradigms. Qualitative research can be positivist, interpretive, or critical. This exemplifies the dynamic characteristics of this method. A study can be changed if a person or subject changes.”

Hence the writer aim to answer the research question by providing many data as many as he can, to explain the implementation of UK military strategy and operation that created by UK. With data that the writer have, the writer intends to examine the progress of UK in combatting DAESH. And the writer intends to conclude his research by giving the recommendation.

1.9. Structure of the Thesis

The following are the structure of this thesis:

Chapter I: Introduction provides a brief introduction to the thesis. The chapter will attempt to explain the background of the study and identify the writer‘s problem with the matter that existed, followed by theoretical framework and research methodology used by the writer in creating this thesis.

Chapter II: DAESH in Syria and Iraq. The writer will examine the situations of DAESH in Syria and Iraq, also explaining the origins of DAESH. As well as the threat of DAESH towards UK national security

Chapter III: OVERVIEW OF UK DEFENSE POLICY & MILITARY

OPERATION . In this Chapter the writer will delight to review and explain the UK National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security about combating the extremist and terrorism.

Chapter IV: IMPLEMENTATION of UK Military Operations: “Operation

Shader” in WAR AGAINST Daesh IN IRAQ AND SYRIA. This chapter will analyze the implementation of the UK Military Strategy operation, operation shader to combat DAESH in both Iraq and Syria. The chapter will provide complete analysis regarding the UK Military Strategy and in this chapter, it will explain the outcomes from the execution of operation shader

Chapter V: Conclusion. It will provide all the summary and the main point from all the chapters in this thesis and the recommendation

CHAPTER II

THE GROWTH OF DAESH in IRAQ AND SYRIA

II.1 The Development of DAESH In Iraq

Started from an Iraqi insurgency war in 2014, the Iraqi civil war escalated into an ongoing military conflict in the Middle East. The increasing disorder was chosen by DAESH as the most successful strategically method for troubled area like Middle East. DAESH led by al-Zarqawi, started by provoking the government of Iraq when Iraq became a perfect target for DAESH. Under a great civil war tension between Shi’ite’s majority in Haider’s al-Abadi’s government and Sunni’s discriminated minority, ISIS offered military support and created an army of Sunni’s anti-government. Not long time after that, Iraq was under control of Sunni’s anti-government. 8

In January 2014, ISIS took over Fallujah and Ramadi in Iraq. On June 2014, it strikes University of Anbar in Ramadi, when the group’s fighters captured staff and student’s hostages. The attacks between security and DAESH fighters ended up into 59 people being killed. In the same month, Mosul, Tikrit area and Baiji refinery in Iraq, was seized by DAESH. Since its declaration over the “caliphate”, DAESH keep on gaining power in terms of territory, military, revenue sources (oil, water, gas field), and manpower. It is still unclear on who’s individual or states that fund the terrorist group.9

The Sunni’s anti-government forces later on joined DAESH, thus increasing the power of the group. However, Kurds, who are dominated by Sunnis, did not

8 Nawaz, Maajid. July 29, 2016. ISIS Wants a Global Civil War. The Daily Beast. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/29/isis-wants-a-global-civil-war.htm 9 Baker, Graeme. June 12, 2014. ISIS Rising power in Iraq and Syria. Aljazeera. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/ISIS-eminent-threat-iraq-syria- 20146101543970327.html

Cooperate with DAESH in the conflict, thus create active conflicts in the norther Iraq between DAESH and Kurdish Peshmerga.

DAESH was reportedly executed 1,700 Iraq Army for releasing images of mass executions via Twitter feed and various websites.10 Nearly 19,000 civilians were killed in Iraq-ISIS armed conflict between January 2014 and October 2015.11 On June 12th, ISIL executed up to 1,700 Shia Iraqi Air Force from Camp Speicher near

II.2 Background of the Conflict in Syrian Civil War

For a decades, Middle East was filled by limitless number of conflicts, death and disaster. Technically speaking the problem of Middle East can be considered as the most complex conflict in the world. In order to pursuit peace in the world, the international organization such UN, OSCE, EU and so forth should play an main role to eliminate this problem. There was a growing recognition that counter- terrorism, with reliance on the military, law enforcement and intelligence response, cannot manage the problem alone. As we already aware Syria is a country that has experienced a number of political strife of a nation more than twice her age. After Syria claimed their independence over France in 1946, Syria quickly fell into a pattern of political instability and military coups during the first few decades of its existence. The most prominent of the conflict comes from the involvement of Syria in the Arab-Israeli War in 1967, in which Syria and its Arab allies were defeated by Israeli forces. Planting the spores for future conflict growing hostility between the two countries, while giving way to the rise of nationalist sentiment and military power is concentrated. Continued political uncertainty in the region erupted in 2011 during the Arab spring, and finally materialized in Syria as opposition protesters climbed the Baathist regime ruled.

10 https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/16/world/middleeast/iraq.html?_r=1 11 http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/19/middleeast/iraq-civilian-death-toll/

Technically speaking, what made those people to fight in the first place, it was thanks to Arab spring’s activism from Egypt and Tunisia that encouraged the

Syrian protesters to take a role in demonstrations against the regime of Assad. Syrian express the sadness with the political process and pushing for the government for democratic improvements. These protest was not going smooth as they predicted, in return the government responded with an extreme actions, such as kidnapping, torture and killing the demonstrators. After that the civil rebel force to start organizing and arming Individual governments to combat the violence, which led the government military forces did not have other choice than destroyed entire neighborhoods and cities. Combined, the increasing tension between the two groups created the current state of civil war. The recent accusations the government's use of chemical weapons on civilians has prompted the international community to seriously contemplate intervention, but that does not mean the conflict has been confined to Syria's population exclusively. In the end the other parties also join to help Syrian rebel, the reinforcement they got was from a volunteer rebel fighters from various Middle Eastern countries. Some of these foreign fighters joined the rebels because they want Syria to undergo a democracy, political change, while the others volunteer fighters joined because of their personal religious opposition to the secular Assad regime.

II.2.1 Actors Involved in Syrian Civil War

The conflict in Syria seems like to give huge temptation to other countries and some foreign fighters. 12Since 2012 until now the war that happened in Syria was no longer the war between the rebels and the government of Syria but it already become the war between some certain countries that use this opportunities to promote their own interest or looking some accuses to start another conflict and the extremist group that saw a

12 Who Is Involved In The War In Syria?," Business Insider, accessed May 18, 2017, http://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-involved-in-the-war-in-syria-2013-10

chances in Syria to expand their organizations. Like I mentioned above some of groups have their own prominences to join the rebels and some countries also had their own motives why they need to get involved in this war.

II.2.2 Foreign Countries

A. United States

It begun with the international conflict that occurred in Afghanistan, the conflict was triggered by Al-Qaeda attacks to the United States on September 11, 2001 that made the United States began to hold Operation Enduring Freedom on 7 October 2001 as well as mark the start of the Second Afghan War. The war took three stages: (a) the overthrow of the Taliban regime in the first two months of the war; (B) the removal of Taliban elements and the re-establishment of Afghan government institutions from 2002 to 2008; And (c) maintenance of stability after 2008.

One of the reason why US involved to this war because also one of their close allies, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States asked US to assist them in toppling Assad regime. Because of its dictatorship Saudi Arabia and gulf state afraid that this virus someday will come to them. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also warned Bashar and her supporters in Syria and abroad that they would face the consequences of their action

Hillary views Iran's strategic as dangerous threat13, which were at the time still very closed about its nuclear program with the Assad regime as a threat to Israel's security. Sinking Assad is also claimed to be not only a great boon

13 Hillary Clinton, "National Security | Hillary for America," Hillary Clinton 2016 | Hillary for America, last modified June 13, 2013, https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/national-security/.

to Israel's security, but also reducing Israel's fear of losing its nuclear monopoly.

B. Russia

Russia has become a powerful ally of Syria since 1956. When the Syrian conflict began to heat up, Russia sent a lot of help in the form of a panoply that imported directly from Moscow. Russia wanted Syria's official government running and recognized its sovereignty. For more than three years, Russia only help them by sending some weapons, but in the end of 2015 Russia was officially entered Syria. The country is helping to tackle the rebels and also eliminate DAESH who come to disturb the atmosphere. According to prime minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov, DAESH is one of their primary reason why Russia was providing military aid to the Syrian government under the

leadership of Bashar al-Assad14. He said, if Syria was perish, then DAESH will

take over the country, and Russia is not going to let it happen. Russia so far has admitted sending military advisers, weapons and military equipment to Syria. However, they still denied sending fighter jets and troops to Syria. The prime minister of Russia Sergei Lavroc and President Vladimir Putin has confirm their position, that they will continue to provide assistance to Syria, as long as it is requested. According to them, what to do in Syria are in accordance with the international law.

C. Turkey

Turkey is also a country that supports the rebels in Syria. They did this because from the beginning Turkey did not like the government that president

14 Andrew Osborn and Maria Kiselyova, "Russia Says Wants Syria Elections, Ready to Help Free Syrian Army," Reuters, accessed May 29, 2017, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis- syria-russia-idUSKCN0SI08820151025.

Bashar who currently govern in Syria15. Besides Turkey is also a member of NATO, they were very loyal and they did the mission that carried out its biggest member, American. Turkey provides a lot of weapons and combat equipment to the rebels. They continue to send aid to avoid losing to government troops that get a substantial help from Russia and Iran. There were also accusation from the president According President of Syriah that Turkey send its troops to slaughter a local citizen in Syria but according to President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the reason why he sent a troops to Syria was not other than to abolish the Assad regime.

"Why do we enter the (army)? We do not have eyes in the land of Syria. This issue is to give the land to the real owners. This means that we are there to uphold justice, "said Erdogan, who reported on Wednesday (11/30/2016).

MR. Erdogan continued that Turkey cannot stay still seeing the murder against civilians. And they decide to take an action and go to Syria together with the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The Turkish President also accused the UN of their incompetence to influence the situation in Syria. Erdogan assess the UN as an organization that is not effective.

D. Iran

The motive of Iranian involvement in the war in Syria, in support of Bashar Assad, it had already revealed clearly. The interesting facts why they support the Syria was not cause of political or economic matters, but to be more precise the cause was religious-transcendental. 16In a press conference in Tehran some time ago, Husain Dahqan, Iranian Defense Minister already

15 Reuters , "President Erdogan Says Turkey Entered Syria to End "Rule of the Cruel Assad"," Newsweek, last modified November 29, 2016, http://www.newsweek.com/turkeys-erdogan-

aims-ending-rule-cruel-assad-526478. 16 Ali Hasyem, "Iran in Crosshairs As Syrian War Winds Down," Al-Monitor, accessed May 18, 2017, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/03/iran-syria-departure-post-war-assad- future-russia-hezbollah.html.

stated that his country would continue to provide military aid 17to the regime of Bashar Assad to the cities that has taken by terrorist groups (groups of fighters against Bashar Assad) so they can be taken back someday. He stated that the areas controlled by the terrorists in Aleppo will be liberated by the

Iranian’s armies. The government of Iran even sent one of the best their task force to assist Syria. IRGC.

The IRGC cooperate with Syria’s troops against the rebels. Other than that, the solid proof that cannot be denied that Iran helped Syria was when forty eight Iranian that was arrested by the rebels in Damascus according to the rebels, all the prisoners was a member of IRGC. Unfortunately in the end the prisoner was released four months later but in exchange the government of Syria released almost two thousand prisoners. Iran perceived the war in Syria as part of a war against the United States, Israel and other western countries. Western countries was seen to expand its influence in the Arab and Middle East. Therefore, Iran formed an alliance with the Syrian regime and Hezbollah groups in Lebanon as part of their defense against the west. Iran also try to cooperates with Russia to strengthen their power against and Russia have been meeting in November 2015 and made an agreement to work together to help Syria. They are in hand to restore the original Syrian government that has long been neglected because of the opposition and the ISIS also destroy anything that he met.

E. Saudi Arab

Saudi Arabia is one of the most important supporters of the opposition in Syria. The regime in Riyadh sent a lot of weapons and heavy equipment to the opposition groups. Shipment of armored vehicles and machine guns was officially received by the Free Syrian Army rebel group (FSA). In addition,

17 Barak Barfi, "The Real Reason Why Iran Backs Syria," The National Interest, last modified January 24, 2014, http://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-real-reason-why-iran-backs-syria-14999.

Saudi Arabia also sent aid. FSA fighters reported receiving salary payments denominated in dollars or euros. Rebel soldiers' salaries are higher than the average salary of government employees. With the payment, Saudi Arabia hopes will be more civil servants are turning to support Syrian rebel groups.

There was no doubt that Saudi Arabia is indeed wanted to strengthen its influence in Syria, said political analyst Anna Sunik of the GIGA Institute in Hamburg, who did research on the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. There was no denied that Syria now has become a battlefield for the great powers in that region. According to Anna Sunik as well, a conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia is primarily a competition in Islamic ideology. Saudi Arabia, which adheres to Sunni Islam especially want to strengthen the influence of the ideology of Wahhabism, a conservative sect of Islam that the ideology of the state. While in Iran, Shia Islam became the state religion and political bow is determined by the mullahs and religious supreme leader.

"The regime in Saudi Arabia felt threatened by the ideology of Islamic alternative represented by Iran. They are worried that there is an opposition group to imitate this model and then shake the royal Al Saud family rule".

II.3 The Origins of DAESH

DAESH is actually the other names of IS, ISIL, or ISIS. It is a terrorist group who claimed themselves as a representatives of Islam. The birth of DAESH is inseparable from the political conditions of Syria and Iraq as an unstable country or fragile states. This fact became one of the causes of the emergence of rebel organizations which later transformed into radical crime organizations such as DAESH. The word of DAESH began to be used in September 2014 by the French

government to refer the ISIS. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also asked journalists to use the word DAESH18.

In January 2015, Prime Minister Tonny Abbot also announced that his country would use the word 'DAESH' 19to call ISIS. The term 'DAESH' is also widely used Arab countries to call ISIS. In a speech over the weekend, US Secretary of State Secretary Jhon Kerry also used the term 'DAESH', so there is a high chance that Americans would use 'DAESH' to refer to ISIS as well. Basically their intention in creating this organization to establish an Islamic state. This movement originally created in the Middle East region led by Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi. The purpose of the current movement is to conquer and unite the territories of Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel into a unitary state under the banner of the Caliphate, a kingdom that applies Islamic law in full in running the state government. It is not possible, the conquests will be continued throughout the world.

For the requirement of recruiting member, these fundamental Islamic movements will accept people that has the same understanding with them, at first they were focusing on recruit member in middle east area only, but after that got enough territory a including Indonesia. There was once a video circulating in social media, an Indonesian citizen (WNI) who claimed to be named Abu Muhammad al Indonesi invites Indonesian Muslims to join the struggle for the establishment of the Islamic state by joining the movement. Not only from Indonesia, is the movement identical with this black costume also has a member

18 'Daesh': French Government Adds to Confusion As Foreign Minister Uses Arabic Acronym for Isis," The Independent, accessed May 29, 2017, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/daesh-french-government-adds-to- confusion-as-foreign-minister-uses-arabic-acronym-for-isis-9740445.html. 19 Fred McConnel, "Australian PM Says He'll Now Use Daesh Instead of Isil for 'death Cult' – but Why? | World News | The Guardian," The Guardian, last modified January 12, 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/12/tony-abbott-say-hell-now-use-daesh-instead-of- isil-for-death-cult-but-why. 2. McConnel,

from Australia. The suicide bomber that occurred in the market in Iraq some time ago, after being identified was done by an 18-year-old boy from Melbourne, Australia.

According to traditional geopolitical reviews, a conflict can be caused by three factors, namely; Region, ideology, and resources. But modern geopolitics today also categorizes ethnically and historically related factors. In this regard, in terms of geopolitics, the actions of an actor can be assessed by linking the strategic relation of policy and the political and geographical conditions of an area based on historical reality, demographics, location , As well as natural resources. These aspects include important relationships that can be illustrated to the geopolitical conditions of Syria and Iraq as ISIS's birth womb as the world’s largest and largest radical crime organization in the world today.

II.3.1 Political insecurity and geographical Aspect

The phenomenon of Arab spring is one of the important aspect that may contribute in the constellation of unstable politics and security in the Middle East .The fall of the regime of government in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya also affecting another countries.20 One of them that got the influence of Arab Spring. which the condition of being afflict by Arab spring made government Bashar al Assad keep dismantled the opposition that has become weaken the position of the government as the holder of state sovereignty. The absence of government as an intermediate figure and security guards inflict phase the state critical for Syria until the position of the country now entered into a list of unstable countries which also exacerbating the stability of security in the middle east region.

20 Scott Williamson Williamson and Caroline Abadeer, last modified January 28, 2014, https://muftah.org/protest-uprising-revolution-regime-change-explaining-outcomes-arab-spring

On the other hand, the conflict situations in Iraq even has been held long time ago. Syria beset the Arab spring .The conflict between rebels and between sect in Iraq has occurred since long time ago .It was worst with the al-Qaeda that supports movements the insurgency , especially from among Sunni , so that they thrives and develop into the radical movement that not only intend to overthrow the crown but also aims to build a daulah islamiyah led by a caliphate .Isis which used to be the content or Islamic state of Iraq is part of al-Qaeda in trying to subvert government the majority Shiites in Iraq .The acts of the insurgency widespread to other places because of vicious sectarian war which continues to expand potential conflicts continuing long getting bigger.

Figure 1: Map Data

Geopolitically speaking, the position of Syria and Iraq that located in the Middle East has shown a strategic position that becomes the meeting point between Europe and Asia and Africa. This strategic position makes Syria and Iraq a lovely region that interests many states. The position of Syria and Iraq that enter into the regional and international energy map area makes the position of both regions very dynamic. Although Syria is not a very oil-rich country, Syria plays an important role in the distribution of oil. Syria is one of the countries holding the infrastructure of crude oil pipelines and gas pipelines with an important geopolitical position for the life of the oil economy in the Middle East.

This region is the entrance and exit of trans-continent pipelines. So it is with Iraq. Although Iraq's major crude oil fields are in the southern region, there are still some small fields in northern Iraq that are more than enough to finance the organization's funding needs such as ISIS.

The Syrian and Iraqi territories that located at the heart of the Middle East become a distinct advantage for ISIS. If I viewed in terms of geopolitics, this position will greatly facilitate ISIS to continue expanding its territory. Characteristics of the region in Syria and Iraq are flat and descending contours are assessed to facilitate ISIS's open war effort to continue to occupy cities in Syria and Iraq to add and strengthen its defense base. In its development, ISIS became reluctant to use the word Syria and named itself as ISIL or Islamic State of Iraq and Levant. The word Levant or Sham refers to an old territorial context where it contains the territories of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.

II.3.2 The Escalation of DAESH in Iraq and Syria

Originally DAESH was established in Iraq before the conflict in Syria happened the term that they use by the name Tanzhimu ad-Daulah al- Islamiyah fi al-Iraq. In Iraq they join the Sunni group in Mosul. But when

there was a conflict between the regime of Bashar Assad and the opposition group in Syria that the majority were Sunnis who indirectly opposed to Bashar Assad who embraced Shia Alawi. DAESH took advantage of this condition after knowing that situation, after that they took part in the war and take over some territory in Syria which was finally able to control Iraq and Syria simultaneously under the new name Tanzhimu ad-Daulah al- Islamiyah fi al-Iraq wa asy-Sham abbreviated with Dai'sy or Tanzhimu Da'isy. But Western countries are more familiar with the name ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) or DAESH. This picture shows the escalation of DAESH and their achievement in controlling Iraq and Syria:

Figure 2: The DAESH Presence and attack

The red shaded areas across Syria and Iraq show the broadest extent of what could be deliberated territory under DAESH control. In some point, DAESH did not directly rule the area so much, so they can overpower the government and then rule that area.

II.3.3 DAESH Affiliates

Figure 3: the geographical spread of DAESH-affiliated groups.

The escalation of DAESH has given them the opportunities to expand their networks to other Middle East region. The institute for the study of war showed a map the spreading of DAESH allies across the regions. This following map will explain the expansion of DAESH:

In that map it explain that most country in Middle East area has become their base. The number of terrorist keep increasing significantly. In 2016 The Centre on Religion and geopolitics show the extreme action that monitor in their surveillance camera that the DAESH affiliated groups terminate twofold the organizations as Al-Qaeda and it’s subordinated. The ICG also examined the proliferation of DAESH affiliates and they are perceiving as

“IS aims to expand beyond its regional base by establishing provinces

(wilayaat) through aggressive recruitment and luring in other groups. It appears less discerning in allowing groups to join than al-Qaeda is about accepting new affiliates21. It has had some success elsewhere but nothing like in Iraq—perhaps unsurprising given its strong Iraqi identity and roots in conditions there”

In January 2016 Charles Lister show the list of DAESH in some provinces in the Middle East (August 2015). It seem to prove that DAESH succeed in taking over almost the region in the Middle East country22. This table will show what province that DAESH and its affiliates has been taken:

A January 2016 Brookings paper, produced by Charles Lister, listed the

DAESH ‘wilayat’ (as of August 2015) demonstrating the geographical reach of the organisation.2These are set out in the table below:

21 United Kingdom Parliament Home Page, accessed May 29, 2017, https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf.

Country Wilaya (province)

Iraq Baghdad

Iraq Shamal (North) Baghdad

Iraq (south of Baghdad) Al-Janub (South)

Iraq Al-Anbar

Iraq Al-Fallujah

Iraq Salahuddin

Iraq Diyala

Iraq (northern) Dijla (Tigris)

Iraq Ninevah

Iraq Kirkuk

Syria Damascus

Syria Homs

Syria (Hassakeh) Al-Baraka

Syria (deir el-Zour) Al-Khayr

Syria Hama

Syria Aleppo

Syria Al-Raqqa

Iraq & Syria (northern) Al-Jazeera

Iraq & Syria Al-Furat (Euphrates)

Yemen Sanaa

Yemen Shabwa

Yemen Hadramawt

Yemen Al-Bayda

Yemen Lahj

Yemen (Ibb) Liwa al-Akhdar

Libya (Cyrenaica/eastern Libya) Barqa

Libya Tripoli (or Tripolitania)

Libya Fezzan

Algeria Algeria

Egypt Sinai

Saudi Arabia Najd

Afghanistan-Pakistan Khorasan

Nigeria Gharb (West) Africa

Russia Al-Qawqaz (Caucasus)

Table 1: DAESH ‘wilayat’ (as of August 2015) demonstrating the geographical reach of the organization.

II.3.4 DAESH Threats towards UK national Security

The continuation of DAESH militants to terrorize Iraq and Syria made the British government very wary of the threat of jihadist groups. British Prime Minister David Cameron said that DAESH was a direct threat to Britain, so UK need to give their best to stop their movement. According to

UK intelligence had an objective to launch massive chemical attack to UK and in Europe as well. Ben Wallace mentioned that UK government feared that the militant or the local citizen that sympathize with ISIS or DAESH or get their radical ideology will return to UK23, what they are afraid of is that those people will pose or increasing the domestic threat. BEN Wallace believe that the goal of them will definitely Mass casualty attack. He said

“They have no moral objection to using chemical weapons against populations and if they could, they would in this country. The casualty figures that could be involved would be everybody’s worst fear.

Even though UK has not tracked yet that there will be a specific chemical attack scheme but UK security force has trained very hard to prepare for the possibility if they launched the chemical attack. According to British terrorism investigator Max Hill at the end of February 2017, ISIS's threat level to Britain today is similar to that of the IRA at the height of separatist tensions in the 1970s. 24ISIS and IRA, Hill said, they are targeting innocent civilians.by targeting or capturing the local citizen they can give the pressure to the certain states to demand a substantial of money for their needs. And of course it will make UK economy security become low.

23 Minister Sees Threat of Islamic State Chemical Attack in Britain| Reuters," Reuters UK, accessed

May 29, 2017, http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-security-islamic-state-idUKKBN14L0YW. 24 Thompson Reuters, "ISIS Threat in U.K. High, Says New Terrorism Watchdog - World," CBC News, last modified February 26, 2017, http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/uk-terror-threat-high- max-hill-1.3999951.

CHAPTER III

OVERVIEW OF UK DEFENSE POLICY & MILITARY OPERATION AGAINTS DAESH

III.1. UK National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review:

An Overview

The United Kingdom has a complex outline in establishing the defense policy. The UK defence policy is determined by the Ministry of Defence, under the leadership of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence establishes the guideline, targets, and achievements of the Ministry of Defence in managing national security and military activity globally. From time to time, the Ministry of Defence publishes the UK National Security Strategy and Strategic Defense and Security Review as a guideline to be followed in the establishment of the UK defence policy. The guideline is published in order to establish the common perception of the main focus of the United Kingdom defense policy. By doing so, the UK can establish a better conception internally among the institutions in the United Kingdom, and also communicate with allies regarding the attention for the British forces.

In this thesis, the writer will use two publications of the UK National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review, for the year 2015. The purpose is to elaborate the focus and attention of the UK defence policy within the time frame, and understanding the main concerns of the UK defence policy. The publication for the NS3DSR was published in November of 2015. The review gave an insight of the United Kingdom’s defense posture in reviewing the actions of the past year. The contents of the review provided the concerns for security and the development of the UK military strategy and capabilities.

III.1.1. Development of UK Defence Policy

Throughout the years, the United Kingdom has maintained its policy to be a global participating member of peace and security, in order to achieve its vision in maintaining a secure and prosperous United Kingdom. By that, the UK maintains the involvement in actively contributing to security measures, in part by maintaining and developing their military capacity. As a member of NATO, the UK maintains their 2% of GDP into their commitment to the defense budget, in order to promote the accumulating capacity of NATO as an organization that promotes peace and security. Though maintaining the number at 2% of the GDP, the amount of contribution to the defense budget is increasing yearly, with the growing

Figure 4 United Kingdom Defence Spending .2000-2017 development of the UK. Over the years, the percentage ratio to the GDP has actually fallen quite significantly, but it does not imply the laxed spending by the government of the UK. The lower %GDP is still relatively incoherent when compared to the steadily rising amount of the defence budget over the years. For the fiscal year of 2015, the United Kingdom ranked fifth in the global spending of military budget, only losing to the US, China, Saudi

Arabia, and Russia.25 By 2015, the United Kingdom holds approximately 82,000 military personnel within their military structure. The Ministry of Defense also ensures to raise the capacity of the military, by seeking a raise of 1% of the total military budget in order to purchase and develop new military equipment and systems to support the security needs of the United

Figure 5: Top 15 global military expenditure. Source: http://books.sipri.org/files/FS/SIPRIFS1604.pdf

Kingdom.26

The contents of the review itself contained several concerns for the UK security, raising concerns of safety and security surrounding matters such as cyber security, climate change, and terrorism.

25 http://books.sipri.org/files/FS/SIPRIFS1604.pdf 26 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. Page 27

III.1.2. Anti-Terrorism/Extremism

As UK believed that DAESH possess a huge threat towards UK national security. The government of UK decided to issue a policy that has been approve by the house of commons of United Kingdom on 8th of November 2016 to conduct more airstrikes against DAESH in Iraq. They also help the Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdish by giving military knowledge and training. The policy that carry out by UK almost the same as Syria, the difference is they enlarge the air military.

Instability, conflict and state failure overseas pose an increasingly direct threat to the UK. They create large-scale humanitarian and development need, drive global migration and hamper economic growth, and result in ungoverned spaces which can be exploited by terrorists and criminals. It is firmly in our national security interests to tackle the causes and to mitigate the effects of conflict.27

The United Kingdom believes that conflict and instability can be perceived as a threat for security of the United Kingdom for the survival, therefore should require an attention and cooperation between the global powers in order to foresee the conflict to be resolved.

According prime minister of UK, national security of UK depends on their economic security and vice versa. The initial of stage of their strategy is to guarantee the economy remains strong28. In the guideline of UK national strategy, it also mentioned the extremist and the terrorism. It stated in chapter 4 with title of Protect Our People verse number 4. According to British Prime Minister David Cameron said the possibility of ISIS radical

27 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. Page 63 28 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. Page 5

groups in Iraq and Syria will attack Europe. Britain raised the level of terrorist threats to "severe" since August 2014 which means Britain would prepare their utmost attention for potential attacks on the Britain security. Meanwhile, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Washington had no plans to follow Britain's move.

However, US national security officials have been in talks with London on this issue.. In Geneva, the head of the UN refugee agency, Antonio Guterres, stated that the humanitarian crisis in the 21st century. The large massive numbers of casualties and destruction, and the number of people displaced from their home countries is becoming a worldwide crisis. Conditions were compounded by the emergence of ISIS and other rebel groups reportedly holding peacekeepers in Golan Heights. The National strategy and strategic defence and security report elaborated four approaches that the UK is implementing through their defence policy in combating extremism and terrorism which are:

1. Preventing The Spread of Radicalization

Iraq and Syria are unstable countries which make Extremism can enter this countries and brainwashed them with their ideologies so people can become extremist. In order the prevent people to become one of those, UK government come up a new strategy that published in October 2015 which called Counter Extremism Strategy. The operation of this strategy is quite simple, the UK will make an alliance with all of the people who opposed or disagree with DAESH’s ideologies after that we eliminated the DAESH and create a unified communities. Because UK is very proud with its ideologies and its values with the basis of diverse, Multi-racial, and multi faith society. Through this method UK will continue to make action as effective as possible with the help of UN as well to eliminated DAESH from the root, so DAESH will disappear

permanently. UK also will expand their efforts to find people who almost become terrorist and stop them before they involve in terrorist activity.29

2. Maintaining Intel and Pursuing Terrorists

UK will keep on investigating and find wherever they are, UK will be ready with their law enforcement, intelligence agencies and armed force to deal with terrorist attack in the UK or overseas. UK also will strengthen their defense for countering terrorism. They also provide a police who are capable in investigating terrorist activity online and the one who can effectively process a large amount of Digital media. While in the agencies, UK will make a new operation of counter terrorism strategy by increasing the expert in analysts and investigator and upgrade the technology to counter terrorism (Technical Intelligence and Digital Forensic). UK will do their best to make sure that every single terrorist would not dare to show their face in UK. Because we will monitor them and ensure to catch them. By doing that UK will strictly give to the police and national offender management a hard training for this case. Technically Terrorism always aim unstable country to make another new stronghold and recruit some new members. UK will track their movement in that environment.30

3. Protecting UK from the Attack

UK will continue to protect their people against terrorist from inside. UK will monitor every people that come this country, and they will make a list of visitors that recorded in our system. UK will spend and

29 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. Page 37 30 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. Page 38

also focus on aviation security, as we know most of the visitor came by air vehicle, but very few of them that came by air or ground. In order to deal with, UK will develop their technology to be more advance to seek out the terrorist. By improving their protective security it will shrink the risk of terrorist to enter UK.31

4. Preparing For the Terrorist Attack

For this method UK believe that by enhancing our ability to counter terrorist attack, UK should to train their local polices, improving the medic knowledge to face major crisis. UK also improving the emergency aid to deal with high the terrorist attack that can cause great attack from terrorist in order to save a multiple lives in disadvantage condition before the expert5 from this came to help. We also prepare some expert who can help the local citizens right away. UK has provide set up ten thousand military expert that available in in worse condition. UK also keep training the local polices and soldier to combat the terrorist if they attack UK directly. 32

III.2. International Collaboration and Involvement in the Middle East

As we know every states need other states to help them in order to grow and improving their economy and defense or promote their cultures. It was also works in combating the terrorist. By making an alliances it would be a great help to defeat terrorist. UK made their good relationship with NATO and EU, also ask worked together with their precious allies such as Middle East countries. UK and France make and alliances and work together under the 2010 Lancaster house treaty to discuss their effort to counter terrorism and pursue the attackers. By

31 Ibid 32 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. Page 39

increasing UK’s network with middle east, North America, South Asia. UK ensure it will trigger the enthusiasm of government and the police to attack the terrorist. UK will share our military knowledge in counter terrorism with our alliances. With this action we can strengthen our bonds with our alliances.

III.2.1. US led Coalition Effort in Combating DAESH

Facing a critical situation in Iraq and Syria and the current expansion of DAESH, the former President of US, Barrack Obama launched an airstrike as an approach of limited military intervention against DAESH in Sinjar and Erbil and provided humanitarian assistance to help Yazidi trapped in Mount

Sinjar to pass the 20,000 Yazidi to the Kurdistan region. 33This attack is part

of a special operation to confront the DAESH that threatens Iraq and the international community as a whole. Due to American good intention, they got support some another states such as Britain, France, Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and United Arab Emirates and their first attack begun on September 22, 2014 on Syria Which targets IS and al-Nusrah groups. Previously, on September 5, 2014, , U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry invited the Ministers from Britain, France, Germany, Canada Australia, Turkey, Italy, Poland and Denmark to attend the meeting in order to discuss efforts. And those nine countries gladly accepted the proposal of US to defeat DAESH. And after that they involve other countries to participate and become the member of global coalition.

33 Counter-Daesh Coalition," U.S. Department of State, last modified July 21, 2016, https://2009-2017.state.gov/s/seci/261626.htm.

III.2.2. Contribution of Global Coalition Members

1. United States as the leader of this international coalition play a big role by sending F-22 Raptor and F-18 Super Hornet jets and drones and missiles to assist Iraqi forces and Kurdish troops under an agreement with the Iraqi government and help attack IS by air to Syria with 5 other Arab countries. The United States also provides humanitarian aid to the victims in Iraq and Syria. The United States has sent 1,600 veterans troops to Iraq in order to train Iraqi army and Kurdish army. 800 of these troops served to keep the army safe. The troop's upgrades continue to increase by the United States by doubling to 3,100 and continuing to rise to 4,850 troops.

2. Saudi Arabia as the strongest Sunni country in the Middle East also took part in the fight against DAESH by sending 305 fighters directly targeting Syria and has participated in Syria in providing air strikes and army assistance to train Syrian rebel forces as well.

3. The United Arab Emirates also took part in sending 201 combat aircraft in Syria along with Dubai in providing air strikes and army assistance to train Syrian rebel forces. United Arab Emirates along with Qatar also became the base for US Led - Coalition to attack IS. The United Arab Emirates also took part in sending 201 combat aircraft in Syria along with Dubai in providing air strikes and army assistance to train Syrian rebel forces. United Arab Emirates along with Qatar also became the base for US Led - Coalition to attack DAESH.

4. Qatar also contributed by sending 18 unit fighter planes to target Syria and it consider as crucial contribute to us led - coalition .With the United Arab Emirates, Qatar be air force base to strike DAESH.

5. Germany sent 40 experts to train Kurdish fighters and provide military equipment. Germany also contributed to provide armaments for Peshmerga and the army to train them by sending 40 troops to Iraq to train Kurdistan plus 16,000 attackers, hundreds of anti-tank guns, weapons, ammunition, and military equipment at night, military vehicles, radio sets, and helmets as well other equipment for 10,000 Peshmerga troops. Some of Kurdistan too get direct military training in Southern Germany. Germany did not participate in providing air raids with more focus on providing weapons to Kurdi Peshmerga to fight IS. Germany also provides military hospitals to heal wounded Iraqi troops and prepare troops from Germany to over 100 to train Iraqi troops in northern Iraq. As well as Germany provides humanitarian aid in northern Iraq.

6. France launched an offensive to Iraq through air strikes through the United Arab Emirates involving 750 personnel. France has also launched an offensive against DAESH through 2 fighter jets, naval, aircraft and humanitarian aid as much as 59 cargoes to Iraq. Since joining US Led - Coalition France has been active in providing air strikes while trying to defend Mosul and the area around Fallujah. France also provided military vessels against Kurdistan and granted asylum to Iraqi refugees.

7. Australia has contributed to air raids using 8 units of F / A-18 Hornet jet fighters and 2 fighters through the United Arab Emirates as well as 600 troops. 600 troops that sent by Australia is in charge of protecting the logistics that provided by the United Arab Emirates along with 8 warplanes and 1 warning aircraft. Australia also participated in sending Special Forces to train Iraqi forces and humanitarian aid to Iraq as much as 3 million in Australian currency. Australia is very active in providing

assistance to Kurdistan in the form of ammunition in the defense of northern Iraq and sending 200 Special Forces to train local troops. On August 7-14 on a continuing basis Australia with the United States and Britain provide humanitarian assistance to Yazidi residents who are on Mount Sinjar through Hercules C-130. 62.

8. Canada sends troops to assist Iraq with 70 special operations troops to train Kurdistan in northern Iraq as well as assistance of 5 to 8 CF-18 fighter aircraft as well as aircraft tankers. Canada, contributed in sending thousands of troops to Iraq as well as helping Albania to provide 500 tons of military aid to Iraq. Canada also provides non- military assistance of 10 million US dollars and humanitarian aid as much as 5 million US dollars.

9. Turkey also contributed to air attack equipment and provided military support and logistical support to attack IS to Syria. Turkey has provided 1.5 million Turkish humanitarian aid to northern Iraq and built refugee camps to accommodate 20,000 refugees from Iraq. Turkey also provides assistance in the form of military training Kurdish Peshmerga in northern Iraq.

10. The Czechs provide 500 tons of ammunition for the Iraqi army and provide fighter jets. The Czechs also contribute as much as 1 million humanitarian aid in Czech currency to help victims in Syria. The Czech Republic also provides 8 million weapons to the local army as well as 10 million AK-47, 8 million weapons to 5,000 grenades.

While the other participation also gave a huge support to the international coalition by several countries such as Bulgaria, Egypt, Finland, Kosovo, Oman, Singapore, Taiwan, Andorra, Bosnia, Lithuania,

Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Serbia, Slovenia, Tunisia and Ukrainian even though their support was not substantial as much as those countries that I mentioned above. As well as participating in the support of the Arab League, NATO and the EU through commission that worth £ 15 million for humanitarian aid. The EU also provided humanitarian aid of 17 million Euros on August 15, 2014 and the EU approved each member to provide military assistance to Kurdistan

III.2.3. British’s National Interest in The Campaign against DAESH

Operation Shader is one of the main policies introduced by the United Kingdom in combating the influence of DAESH. Further elaboration regarding the UK implementation of DAESH will be elaborated in the next chapter. The operation Shader is the codename of the operation that has been given from the House of Commons to UK as member of CJTF-OIR.34

Technically, in the global coalition there are 68 partner that committed to defeat DAESH for good.

The national interest of the United Kingdom can be interpreted through review of their defense policy, and the statements of the public leaders. Security is the main issue for the interest of the United Kingdom to be involved in the campaign against DAESH. As mentioned previously, the United Kingdom perceives the growing instability and conflict caused by the growing influence of DAESH that presents an immediate danger to the national security of the UK. By that, the UK seeks to implement a countermeasure to prevent the spreading of influence of DAESH, and also the immediate danger to the security of the UK. As aforementioned in the

34 Operation Shader: Britain’s War in Iraq and Syria – Warfare.Today," Warfare.Today, accessed May 29, 2017, http://www.warfare.today/2017/04/04/operation-shader-britains-war-in-iraq-and- syria/.

previous chapter, UK claimed that DAESH possessed a severe threat towards UK national security. By taking down DAESH it will reduce significantly a number of foreign fighters that come or return to UK with terrorist intention.

CHAPTER IV

IMPLEMENTATION OF UK MILITARY OPERATIONS:

“OPERATION SHADER” IN WAR AGAINST DAESH IN

IRAQ AND SYRIA

As part of the global coalition against DAESH under the strategy Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), several states including the UK, established their respective military strategies in battling the terrorist group. The UK government comes up with the Operation Shader military strategy as part of their defense policy implementation. The strategy, coined by the UK government, specifically the House of Commons35 puts emphasis on sending minimum amount of troops to train and equip Iraqi Security Force and the Syrian Opposition. The writer realized that in order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of this issue, there is an ample need to explain the implementation of the said strategy. Thus, this sub- chapter will be the part which elucidates regarding it. The writer characterized the UK military operation parts into:

1. UK Troops Deployment Train and Equip strategies in Operation Shader in Iraq and Syria,

2. Weaponry Assets used in Operation Shader in Iraq and Syria and

3. UK Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria under Operation Shader

Lastly, the writer would give summary of the military operation with its progresses that has been made so far by the UK, as well as the global coalition.

35 UK House of Commons - Defence Committe, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016), https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf.

IV.1 UK Troops Deployment Train and Equip strategies in Operation Shader

in Iraq and Syria

The inclusion of troops in a military strategy is always to be an essential element of the said strategy, Operation Shader is no exception. Similar to other global coalition’s national strategies in war against DAESH with accordance to CJTF-OIR, Operation Shader send military trainers which primary target is to train and equip Iraqi Security Forces and the Syrian Opposition.36 This is accompanied with airstrikes against DAESH alongside

the global coalition37, pushing forward the effort in battling the terror group. The troops however, will be this sub-section’s primary issue, with also concerns regarding the amount of troops deployed in the operation, as well as their primary objective to train troops both in Iraq and Syria.

IV.1.1 Troops Deployed to Iraq: Train and Equip ISF

As of 2017, The UK Government has deployed approximately 500 troops to Iraq38, most of which are there with the mission to train the Iraqi Security Forces as well as Kurdish Peshmerga Forces. The number of troops deployed has risen from previous number of 300 in March 2016,39 due to the fact that DAESH has been losing ground in the past year, 40 which pushes the British to take them out with swifter fashion by giving more military trainers to Iraq and Syria. It is worth noting, that these military trainers troops has

36 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, ISIS/Daesh: the military response in Iraq and Syria, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2017), http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06995/SN06995.pdf. 37 Ashley Fantz and Central News Network, "War on ISIS: Who's Doing What?," CNN, last modified November 27, 2015, http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/20/world/war-on-isis-whos-doing-what/. 38 Warfare Today, "Operation Shader: Britain’s War in Iraq and Syria – Warfare.Today," Warfare Today, last modified April 7, 2017, http://www.warfare.today/2017/04/04/operation- shader-britains-war-in-iraq-and-syria/. 39 Sky News, "IS Battle: More UK Troops To Train Iraqi Forces," Sky News, last modified March 12, 2016, http://news.sky.com/story/is-battle-more-uk-troops-to-train-iraqi-forces-10201686. 40 British Broadcasting Corporation, "Islamic State and the Crisis in Iraq and Syria in Maps," BBC News, last modified April 3, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034.

been responsible with: aside from training the ISF and Kurdish Peshmerga, securing borders of town that has been taken over by the global coalition. They are also supporting the US forces in helping to give infrastructure in which is needed to help equip.

Operation Shader as part of CJTF-OIR, are quite similar in strategy, which focused on training local forces in order to aid them to battle. In Iraq, the operation by the UK government has been able to train a sum amount of member of the ISF, as well as Kurdish Forces. In fact the UK was a big contributor in regards to the training of Iraqi Local Forces. In May- July 2016, out of the 31.000 Iraqi local forces that has been trained by the coalition since the start of war against DAESH, the UK was responsible for training over 17.700 Iraqi local forces (3.900 Kurdish Peshmerga while the rest is the ISF.41) The UK troops are also responsible in training the local forces regarding weapons maintenance, countering Improvised Explosives Devices and infantry skills, medical, logistics and bridge-building skills.42 These training are done in various sites in Iraq: Al-Asad air base, Irbil, Besmaya and Taji.43

Troops

State Military Objective

Troops

1. Train and

give advice in

battle against

Iraq 500 DAESH

2. Secure town

borders that

has been taken

41 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016),

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf. 42 Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon MP, "UK to Increase Training to Iraqi Forces - GOV.UK," Welcome to GOV.UK, last modified March 12, 2016, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-increase-training-to-iraqi-forces. 43 Ibid.

over by global coalition and Iraqi forces

Table 2: UK Troops in Iraq Similar to the other member states of CJTF-OIR’s strategies, the primary objective of the UK troops in the operation is to train, give advice and support the ISF as well as Kurdish Peshmerga. Aside from this, as aforementioned, securing town which has been taken over by Iraqi forces is another objective. This approach by the global coalition on the war against

DAESH has been quite a matter of uniformity, with the only “more deviant” approach being the recent attacks by the US to the Syrian base.44 The global coalition’s approach also includes equipping the local forces with weaponry and other non-lethal aids. The details regarding the equipment will be further elaborated in the next subchapter. For now, it is more favorable to explain regarding the UK troops involved in Operation Shader in Syria.

IV.1.2 Troops Deployed to Syria: Train and Equip Syria Opposition

At the start of the operation, the UK troops deployed to Syria have more or less the same objective as their Iraqi counterparts, which is to train and give combat advice to the Syrian Opposition Forces, as well as secure towns that has been taken over by the US-led coalition’s supported rebels. The UK’s involvement in training the Syrian Opposition started in May 2015, with the UK providing 85 troops (military trainers) to train the Syrian Opposition

Forces, alongside the US Troops.45 The number of UK troops involved in

44 Steve Coll, "Trump’s Confusing Strike on Syria," The New Yorker, last modified April 17, 2017, http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/04/17/trumps-confusing-strike-on-syria. 45 David Blair, "Britain Sends 85 Troops to Train Syria Rebels - Telegraph," Telegraph.co.uk, last modified May 16, 2015,

training Syrians was then clarified in the UK House of Commons Reports, bringing the official number of 86 troops in Syria.46 This table will project the amount of Troops in the UK and their role there:

State UK Military Troops Troops Objective

1. Train and give advice

in battle against DAESH

Syria 86 2. Secure town borders

that has been taken over

by global coalition and

Syrian Opposition forces

Table 3: UK Troops in Syria

Limitations in UK Training for Syrian Opposition Forces

There are limitations and obstacles regarding UK and the coalition’s plan to Train and Equip the Syria opposition. For instance, the first training for Syrian Opposition has failed quite miserably, with the 54 trained rebels killed and/or kidnapped while their weapons were stripped-off by Jabhat Al-Nusra Terror Group after they have entered the battlefield.47 This problem arises from the condition of war which the Syrian rebels are facing, in which they do not have official territory in Syria for the US-led coalition to have a proper training condition for these rebels. This prompted the US administration to rethink their

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11610117/Britain-sends-85- troops-to-train-Syria-rebels.html. 46 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016),

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf. 47 The Guardian, "US-allied Syrian Rebel Officer Handed Trucks and Ammunition to Al-Qaida Affiliate | World News | The Guardian," The Guardian, last modified September 23, 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/23/us-trained-rebel-officer-syria-defected-al-qaida.

plan, and ultimately, changing the plan to simply: “equip” the rebels.48 This decision incited a response from the UK government, specifically the Ministry of Defence as it announced quoting:

“(…MOD will focus on providing) a range of civilian support to help save lives, bolster civil society, counter extremism, promote human rights and accountability, and lay the foundations for a more peaceful and democratic future”.49

Despite this statement however, the US and UK troops still conducts training to properly vetted Syrian Opposition forces, these training carried out outside of Syrian borders.50 According to the UK House of Commons report on DAESH, the trainings which were conducted by the UK and the US led coalition will focus on: “training for basic infantry tactics; command and control; medical training and explosive hazard awareness training.”51

This condition shows that there are certainly problems regarding the training strategy for Syria in Operation Shader and by that logic, the CJTF-OIR.

However, the UK and US governments’ training outside Syria still transpires either way, and as this sub-section suggested, so is the equipment for the Syrians as provided by the latter two countries. This sub-section however, will not explain in detail regarding assets of equipment that the UK provided, as the next sub-chapter will delve more into it.

48 Micheal D. Shear, Helene Cooper, and Eric Schmitt, "Obama Administration Ends Effort to Train Syrians to Combat ISIS - The New York Times," The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia, last modified October 9, 2015, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/10/world/middleeast/pentagon-program-islamic-state-

syria.html. 49 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016),

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf. 50 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, ISIS/Daesh: the military response in Iraq and Syria, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2017), http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06995/SN06995.pdf. 51 Ibid.

IV.2 Assets of Equipment in Operation Shader in Iraq and Syria

As it has been done in the previous sub-chapter, this chapter will also characterize its section into Iraq and Syria, further developing a sense of specification in the explanatory element of the issue. It should be noted however, that through Operation Shader the UK did not only supply equipment to Iraq and Syria, but also to Jordan and Lebanon.52 Nonetheless, the matter at hand is that the writer will focus more on the Iraqi and Syrian assets of equipment given by the UK to the respective forces. The need for military equipment in war is always going to be existent; the war against DAESH is no exception. The US-led coalition has been consistent in sending weaponry and non-lethal military aids to the Iraqi government, Kurdish Peshmerga and the Syrian Opposition.53 The global coalition also put sum amount of equipment as part of the effort on the war against DAESH. For instance the US provided the coalition with several aircraft carriers, Predator Drones, Destroyers and few other aircrafts.54 All of this is available for use to the US-led coalition. The UK, as one of the biggest supporters of the coalition, has also provided the coalition with assets of equipment. Being mostly air-based contribution, the UK provided aircrafts, functional for refueling, combat, surveillance, and transportation of troops. This table provided by the report in Operation Shader done by the UK House of Commons, gives a proper explanation regarding the UK assets available for the global coalition:

52 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016),

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf. 53 LIG-OCO, Operation Inherent Resolve 2016, (Washington D.C.: United States of America, 2016), https://oig.state.gov/system/files/oir_quarterly_march2016.pdf. 54 Ben Freeman and David Forscey, "Armaments Against ISIS," Third Way, last modified May 17, 2016, http://www.thirdway.org/memo/armaments-against-isis.

Asset Purpose Weapons which

10 Tornado Brimstone missiles

GR4 fast jet (Dual Mode Seeker aircraft (2 and Legacy ISTAR and

aircraft variants), Paveway ground attack

deployed II, III and IV, from 2 enhanced Paveway

December II, Stormshadow 6 Typhoon Enhanced Paveway

combat II, Paveway IV, ISTAR and

aircraft ASRAAM and

ground attack

(from 2 AMRAAM December missiles.

Reaper

Remotely

Piloted Air

Systems GBU-12 500lb

(10 ISTAR and laser guided bombs available ground attack and AGM-114

but no Hellfire missiles

official confirmatio

n of how Voyager

air-to-air Refueling None

refueling

Transportatio

2 C130

n of troops,

transport None

passengers or

aircraft. freight

Long-range

Sentinel

wide area surveillance None

battlefield aircraft.

surveillance

Airborne

surveillance

E3-D sentry

and None

aircraft

command-

and-control Airseeker

Rivet Joint Airborne

RC- 135W electronic None

signals surveillance intelligence

Table 4: UK assets available to the Coalition

The UK however, puts two of the DAESH-infected states (Iraq and Syria) as its main focus in the war against DAESH. This is shown by the amount of support and equipment given to these two states by the UK Government, especially to Iraq. Therefore, the writer will continue this sub-chapter to include the first sub-section of Iraqi military equipment in Operation Shader.

IV.2.1 Military Equipment in Operation Shader in Iraq

The equipment given to the Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdish Peshmerga by the UK government is quite varied, ranging from Metal Detectors, Tactical Weapons, Medical Supplies, and ammunitions. The table below perhaps could help further elaborate the equipment UK government has given to the Iraqi Government as well as Kurdish Pershmerga:

Date Country Recipient Goods Descriptions Goods Value (£)

Government

Metal Detectors 2,200,000.00

of Iraq

Heavy Machine Guns, 2014

Ministry of Spares, Mortars,

Peshmerga, Binoculars, Body 2,600,000.00

Iraq Armour, Protective

Equipment

1,000 VALLON Counter-Improvised

Government

Explosive Device 500,000.00

Iraq of Iraq

(C-IED) metal

detectors

2015 Medical Supplies

(consisting of items

Ministry of

such as tourniquets,

Peshmerga, 600,000.00

bandage kits

Iraq

and dressings for

wounds)

Machine Gun and 2016 1,400,000.00

Sniper Ammunition

Ministry of Peshmerga, Iraq Table 5: UK Assets of Equipment in Iraq55

The table help demonstrate that the equipment given to the Iraqi Local forces (ISF and Kurdish Peshmerga.) The goods that are delivered to the Iraqi government are Metal Detectors which help the counter-IED tactics training employed by the UK to the local forces. This shows that the focus in the war against DAESH in Iraq is focused more on countering IEDs. However, this could also be the result of American supply of weapons to and military aids to Iraqi Government56, thus, prompting the UK to complement the already quite abundant military equipment which the US has given to Iraqi Security Forces. The Kurdish Peshmerga however, has been getting more military weapons from the UK government, perhaps showing that the UK has put quite sum amount of confidence to the Kurdish force. In 2016, as demonstrated in the table, the UK government, specifically Ministry of Defence and the Secretary of State has rolled out £1,400,000 in value, Machine Guns and Sniper Ammos, which as the report of House of Commons suggest, a constant request from the

Kurdish forces in 2016.57 All of this however, shows that the UK is quite assertive in supporting the Iraqi local forces in battling DAESH; perhaps further demonstrate their dire need to achieve their national interest of defeating the abhorrent terrorist group.

55 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016),

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf. 56 LIG-OCO, Operation Inherent Resolve 2016, (Washington D.C.: United States of America, 2016), https://oig.state.gov/system/files/oir_quarterly_march2016.pdf. 57 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016), https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf.

IV.2.2 Military Equipment in Operation Shader in Syria

The UK also provided military equipment to the Syrian Opposition Forces, aside from training some of them outside of Syria. In 2013 the UK and France has decided that even if the EU would not give them support, they would still arm the rebel of Syria.58 This escalates to the UK sending of £8 million worth of various non-lethal aids as well as £555,000 worth of anti-chemical weapon equipment.59 The decision to send “gifts” to the

Syrian rebels has been approved by the UK House of Commons through voting.60 The report compiled by the House of Commons in 2016 has further elaborated the amount of equipment that has been given to the Syrian troops. The aforementioned report stated that the UK supplied sum amount of equipment to Syrian rebels in 2016, a quote by Minister for Armed Forces further elaborate this:

“In Syria, we have delivered over £4 million of life-saving equipment to moderate opposition groups including communications, medical and logistics equipment, and protection against chemical weapons attacks.” – Penny Mordaunt MP 61 To summarize, here is a table providing simple explanation regarding

the information above:

58 The Huffington Post, "Syria: Britain and France Step up Campaign to Arm the Rebels," The Huffington Post, last modified March 14, 2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/03/14/syria-britain-and-

france-step-up-pressure-to-arm-rebels_n_2879103.html. 59 Kim Sengupta, "Revealed: What the West Has Given Syria's Rebels," The Independent, last modified August 11, 2013, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/revealed- what-the-west-has-given-syrias-rebels-8756447.html. 60 Ibid. 61 Penny Mordaunt, Islamic State:Written Question - 25112, (London: UK Government, 2016), http://www.parliament.uk/written-questions-answers-statements/written- question/commons/2016-02-01/25112.

Date Country Recipient Goods Descriptions Goods Value (£)

4x4 vehicles with ballistic protection; 20 sets of

body armour; four trucks (three 25 tonne, one 20

tonne); six 4x4 SUVs; five non-armoured pick-ups;

one recovery vehicle; four fork-lifts; three

advanced “resilience kits” for region hubs,

8,000,000.00 Syrian designed to rescue people in emergencies; 130 solar 2013 Syria

Rebels powered batteries; around 400 radios; water

purification and rubbish collection kits; laptops;

VSATs (small satellite systems for data

communications) and printers.

Counter-chemical warfare equipment 555,000.00

Military equipment regarding communications,

Syrian

2016 Syria medical and logistics equipment, and protection 4,000,000.00

Rebels

against chemical weapons attacks.

Table 6: UK Military Equipment send to Syria

The equipment given to the Syrian by the UK government through Operation Shader has mostly been non-lethal aids. This is due to the concerns that the weapons given to the rebels may fall to the enemies of the UK and US-led coalition. This is why the UK and the global coalition, pushes another option aside from training and equipping the rebels. The point the writer is trying to make is the infamous airstrikes done in the war against DAESH, which will be explained in the next sub-chapter.

IV.3 UK Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria under Operation Shader

Airstrikes has been the forefront strategy that is utilized by the US-led coalition62, and by extension, the UK.63 Airstrikes bombing, the use of predator drones in attacking has been very abundant. To give comprehensive understanding regarding the issue of airstrikes in the war against DAESH, let

62 LIG-OCO, Operation Inherent Resolve 2016, (Washington D.C.: United States of America, 2016), https://oig.state.gov/system/files/oir_quarterly_march2016.pdf. 63 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016), https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf.

us delve into it. Before we start to analyze the condition of wars and the airstrikes itself, it would be better for us to know the amount of airstrikes that has been dealt against DAESH of Iraq and Syria in 2015-2016.

Month Iraq Syria December 75 11

January 79 20

February 54 6

March 64 3

April 67 5

May 65 3

June 72 5

July 39 5

August 35 7

Total 550 65

Table 7: Number of UK Airstrikes against DAESH in Iraq and Syria (Dec 2015 - Aug 2016)

As seen in the table data above, there are significant numerical differences in the amount of airstrike attacks in Iraq and Syria. The reason for the dissimilarities of almost nine times in the data is the fact that airstrikes in Syria is harder to conduct than in Iraq.64 This is partly due to the Assad government’s grip over parts of Syria, while DAESH is also roaming free due to Assad’s turning a blind eye on them, as long as DAESH can still be a good element and beneficial to his campaign. There is also another reason on why there are significant differences in the airstrikes numbers, which is the difference in supporting a sovereign entity with an organized army and supporting a disjointed unorganized rebel army.65 The distinction in support and infrastructure, took a toll in identifying enemies and making continuous air attack to be quite risky in Syria. This is further elaborated by the UK’s

64 Ibid. 65 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016), https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf.

Lieutenant General Mark Carleton-Smith as he explained that the UK government was: “marginally engaged, from the air only, across a much less homogenous battlefield, where the identification of the multifaceted parties, agencies and militias is much more difficult to determine.”66 He also added the fact that there is a lack of ground component (ground troops) which can help maximize the air campaign.67

UK’s airstrikes targets in Operation Shader

There are also distinctions in UK airstrikes targets in operation Shader in

Iraq and Syria. The UK’s Iraqi airstrikes consist mainly on attack to DAESH forces, while UK’s Syrian airstrikes mostly deal with oil-related infrastructure, buildings and vehicles.68 This is also one of the reasons behind the aforementioned anomalies in the number of airstrikes data table, as the UK government admitted that the drop from double-digits numbers in December and January to single-digits in February is due to the previous two months’ successful airstrikes has already demolished static targets. The UK’s Secretary of State also stated some explanation which gives clearer understanding regarding UK’s stance in terms of target of airstrikes:

“The aim of these missions is not to kill as many DAESH as possible, but to degrade them on occasions by tackling their leadership and in the end to try to undermine their will to fight by attacking their command and control, their infrastructure and so on. It is far too simplistic simply to measure a mission by the number of people killed. Many

66 UK House of Commons, Oral Evidence - UK Military Operations in Syria and Iraq - 26 May 2016, (London: United Kingdom, 2016), http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/defence- committee/uk-military-operations-in-syria-and-iraq/oral/33848.html. 67 Ibid. 68 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016), https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf.

of the missions are to gather intelligence rather than to inflict casualties. The pre- planned missions are usually targeted at infrastructure.”69

The statement further elucidate that the UK’s coercive approach regarding the airstrikes, showing that they are not only targeting DAESH forces but also their infrastructure and all that can be supportive of their repugnant campaign of terror. The UK Lieutenant General Carleton-Smith further elaborates on the strategy which the UK is utilizing in Operation Shader, explaining that in Iraq, the UK is pushing a campaign against DAESH with the objective of “Iraq First” in mind. Conversely, the UK’s Syrian objective according to Carleton-Smith is to: “disrupt command and control and to interdict and disrupt lines of

communication.” 70 This means that the airstrikes done in Iraq is more to support ground Iraqi local forces in the battle against DAESH forces, while its Syrian counterpart has very little of the same type of said airstrikes.

Comparison of UK Airstrikes with those of US-Led Coalition

To give further comprehension on airstrikes done in Operation Shader, it would be good to complement the UK’s data with that of US-led coalition’s airstrikes. This could also help to further demonstrate the efforts put into the campaign against DAESH. Before continuing, it would be best to give a brief explanation regarding how the airstrikes has so far been done by most of the US- led coalition. The United States as the leader of the global coalition has the highest rate of airstrikes against DAESH. Their approach since the beginning of the war against DAESH, has remain stagnant, as they push for more airstrikes

69 UK House of Commons, Oral Evidence - UK Military Operations in Syria and Iraq - 26 May 2016, (London: United Kingdom, 2016), http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/defence-

committee/uk-military-operations-in-syria-and-iraq/oral/33848.html. 70 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016), https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf.

and train and equip strategy instead of costly ground wars.71 The rest of the coalition follows the same path as the US, with their focus to help the local forces by training and equipping, while attacking DAESH with airstrikes through drones and aircrafts.72 This fact regarding coalition’s airstrikes create a tingle to the writer’s prodigious curiosity regarding the comparison of the amount of airstrikes between the coalition and the UK. As this could potentially provide us with a peek on how committed the UK is to the coalition and their effort against DAESH. Therefore, this sub-section will dedicate itself to providing data regarding that.

US-led coalition’s air campaign in Iraq goes underway on August 8th, 2014

and Syria on September 22nd, 2014. The data provided by the UK House of Commons shows that after the UK have joined the coalition; there are approximately 8,287 airstrikes in Iraq and 939 in Syria.73 Among those numbers, the amount of airstrikes done by non-US members of coalition is 2721 and 77 for Iraq and Syria, respectively. After joining the coalition and up to 22 may 2016, the UK has conducted 761 airstrikes in Iraq and 42 in Syria. By mathematical calculation, this means that the UK is responsible for 28% from all non-US airstrikes in Iraq; conversely, it is also responsible for 55% of airstrikes in Syria under the same elements. The UK is also responsible for 7% out of all airstrikes in Iraq, while they are responsible for approximately 4% in Syria. Perhaps to make it less difficult to follow, the writer will provide a table from UK house of common report. The table will depict the information given

71 Barack H. Obama, Address to the Nation by the President, (Washington D.C.: The White House, 2015), https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/06/address- nation-president. 72 LIG-OCO, Operation Inherent Resolve 2016, (Washington D.C.: United States of America, 2016), https://oig.state.gov/system/files/oir_quarterly_march2016.pdf. 73 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016), https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf.

so far regarding airstrikes comparison between UK and the coalition. Here is the table:

Airstrikes in Iraq

Airstrikes in Syria

(27 September

(1 December 2015

2014 - 22 May

- 22 May 2016)

2016)

US 8287 939

Non-US 2721 77

UK 761 42

UK as %

of non-US 28% 55%

strikes

UK as %

of all 7% 4%

strikes

Table 8: Comparison of UK Airstrikes and Coalition Airstrikes

The amount of airstrikes shown in the table has given a small amount of information, that the UK is quite committed in battling Daesh through air campaign, especially in Syria. They are more inclined to have this approach and are not afraid to give quite the contribution for number of airstrikes as the percentages suggest, showing the commitment in the coalition. This perhaps could demonstrate their dire need of pursuing their national interest, through a forceful or coercive path as explained in the theoretical framework.

IV.4 Summary and Progress of Operation Shader

It is quite clear that the UK is committed in supporting the US-led coalition’s effort in defeating DAESH. With them sending troops to Iraq and Syria in order to train local forces, as well as equipping them with UK’s weaponry and non-lethal aids. Not to mention, the fact that UK contributes to

the US-led coalition airstrikes which helps the coalition even more, as UK also gives some of its assets to be used by the coalition, with all that we cannot deny that they have not been half-hearted in pursuing this battle against Daesh. However, there are concerns regarding the limitation in operating in Syria, training has end quite miserably at the start of the program. Operation Shader also seems to uphold the idea that the battle can be won without use of ground troops, even in Syria. This last part of the sub-chapter will elucidate regarding war progresses so far in implementation of the Operation Shader. Perhaps hinting whether the military strategy has been fruitful in is implementation, or not.

Progress so far

Since the start of the war where UK decided to join the coalition in battling DAESH in August 2014, there have been significant progress made so far in the battle. As of May 2016, the UK has made sum amount progress, as initially

Daesh’s territory was bigger than it is currently. The efforts which the UK has put into, is adjacent from the coalition’s efforts as well, as it has been a constant contributor in US-led coalition’s war efforts. Thus, the analysis of US department of Defense regarding the coalition efforts in the war perhaps could further illuminate the progress of the war so far. The analysis from the US said that the coalition had:

“Killed more than 120 high-value individuals in ISIL’s attack network, including the removal of cell leaders, facilitators, planners, recruiters; disrupted media operations, and removed some of the active ties between foreign fighters and Mosul- based ISIL leadership; and, conducted 40 airstrikes against 24 financial targets, destroying DAESH cash to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, including the

targeting of DAESH oil production which the US Treasury Department estimated had reduced DAESH oil revenues by as much as 50%.”74

The Colonel in the interview also explained that, in terms of territory, DAESH has lost most of its once held territory, especially in Iraq. Combined, in Iraq and Syria they have lost approximately 35% of its initial territory.75 The writer wishes to explain more regarding the territory that DAESH has lost, thus, it would be best if the writer can provide a territorial map in order to further

August 2014

The red coloured territory in the map indicated DAESH’s territorial claim, while the darker cream shade is their planned expansion.

Figure 6: DAESH Controlled Territory (August 2014)

74 Steve Warren and US Department of Defense, Department of Defense Press Briefing by Col. Warren Via Teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq, (Washington D.C.: US Department of Defense, 2016), https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/775752/department-of-

defense-press-briefing-by-col-warren-via-teleconference-from-bagh/. 75 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016), https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf.

exemplify the loss of DAESH’s territory, which would also show the progression of the implementation of UK’s military strategy. Here are the territorial maps, dated August 201476 to May 201677:

The map demonstrate the correct statements given by the US Colonel, as

May 2016

Map Legend Black: DAESH territory Dark Red: Iraqi Army Yellow: Kurdish Peshmerga Green: Syrian Rebels Red: Syrian Government

Figure 7:: Territorial Control of War Against DAESH

there are significant differences in the territorial control held by DAESH in two years showing that there are substantial progress of the war done by the coalition. The maps also shows that more significant changes in Iraq rather than

76 Altered Version of source: Max Fischer and Zack Beauchamp, "14 Maps That Explain ISIS," Vox, last

modified September 25, 2014, http://www.vox.com/2014/9/25/6843611/14-maps-that-explain-isis. 77 BBC News, "Islamic State and the Crisis in Iraq and Syria in Maps," BBC News, last modified April 28, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034.

Syria. This of course, emphasized that the implementation of UK’s military strategy and by extension the coalition have quite the difficulty in Syria compared to Iraq, again, highlighting the explanation regarding support for rebel army instead of a sovereign state to be one of the reasons for it.78

In an official statement, the UK Secretary of State explains the Coalition’s progress so far:

“We are now well into this campaign to counter DAESH in Iraq, where considerable progress has been made in pushing DAESH back west along the Euphrates and north up the Tigris, and in liberating towns, cities and territory that it formerly held. In Syria, the situation is obviously more complicated, but DAESH has come under some pressure from the Kurdish forces and the moderate Syrian opposition. Overall, the Coalition that we have mobilised— you are right to refer to the United States’ leadership—in which we and other countries are supporting the United States, is making progress.79 Clearly, progress has been made: I think it took eight months to liberate Ramadi, it took eight weeks to liberate Hit and probably just a week or so to liberate al-Rutbah, so there is a real sense of momentum of the Iraqi and Kurdish forces now advancing. That needs to be sustained.” 80

The UK Secretary of State’s claim is proven to be true by the many progresses in battling DAESH so far, Iraqi local forces has taken back key city Ramadi81, Mosul82, the coalition has done great as well by destroying key

78 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016),

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf. 79 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016),

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf. 80 UK House of Commons, Oral Evidence - UK Military Operations in Syria and Iraq - 26 May 2016, (London: United Kingdom, 2016), http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/defence- committee/uk-military-operations-in-syria-and-iraq/oral/33848.html. 81 Ashley Fantz and Hamdi Alkhshali, "Battle of Ramadi: ISIS Loses Hold on City Government Center .com," CNN, last modified December 29, 2015, http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/28/middleeast/iraq-

military-retakes-ramadi/. 82 Isabel Coles and John Davison, "Iraqi Army Recaptures Key Government Buildings from Isis in Mosul," The Independent, last modified March 7, 2017, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mosul-battle-isis-iraq-islamic-state- government-army-latest-us-coalition-a7616561.html.

buildings of DAESH infrastructures in Syria.83 It shows that perhaps after three years in battling DAESH, the momentum have finally shifted towards UK and the coalition. The UK government and the coalition perhaps has finally made progress due to them targeting DAESH’s financial resources, withering down, if not paralyzing them in terms of financial capability.84 This of course caused problems in DAESH’s campaign as it could weaken their morale and cause them logistical problems. The Charles Lister a Middle East issues expert noted that despite all this progress, defeating DAESH is still quite problematic, as the UK and co. can only “revert them back to something that can be managed”.85

He instead emphasized that defeating DAESH can only be achieved by the coalition’s local allies, the ISF, Kurdish Peshmerga and Syrian Opposition.86

Perhaps this was to not repeat the mistake of 2003 invasion of Iraq which brought about the worst page for the UK in the global war on terror.

83 US Department of Defense, Airstrikes Destroy ISIL Infrastructure in Syria, Iraq, (Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of Defense, 2015), https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/613947/airstrikes-destroy-isil-infrastructure-in-

syria-iraq/. 84 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016),

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf. 85 UK House of Commons - Defence Committee, UK military operations in Syria and Iraq, (Westminster, London: UK Government, 2016),

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf. 86 UK House of Commons, Oral Evidence - UK Military Operations in Syria and Iraq - 17 Mar 2016, (Westminter, London: United Kingdom, 2016), http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/defence- committee/uk-military-operations-in-syria-and-iraq/oral/30948.html.

April 2017

Map Legend Black: DAESH territory Dark Red: Iraqi Army Yellow: Kurdish Peshmerga Green: Syrian Rebels Red: Syrian Government

Figure 8: Territorial Map (April 2017)87

87 BBC News, "Islamic State and the Crisis in Iraq and Syria in Maps," BBC News, last modified April 28, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034.

Middle East experts however, remain quite skeptical with the current progresses in the war, especially in Syria as some still believed that the battle is far from over and DAESH far from demolished. Some of these experts believed that to achieve ground war victory in Syria there need to be certain circumstances which are present, such as “air power, forward observers and a semi-coherent group like the Iraqi Army.”88 There are also concerns regarding the Sunni-Shiite ethnic disparity, as there are some cases in which the local forces seem hesitant in battling their respective ethnic Islamic brothers or sisters.89 Without addressing problems such as this in Syria, victory might almost be unattainable.

Other experts also suggested that the war against DAESH could turn problematic from here on as DAESH started to use more and more “guerilla tactics” especially, appearance and disappearance strategy, which could make it more difficult for the coalition to defeat the DAESH forces.90 This then should be a concern for the UK and its Military Strategy. As even if their implementation so far has been quite progressive in terms of territory, the terror group could simply revert back to its guerilla tactics, which will make it harder for the UK and coalition to defeat them simply by airstrikes, especially in Syria. The UK and the coalition however, has decided to solve this problem by sending more troops for training and lending more equipment for the local forces aiming for a more aggressive and rapid movement of the armies so that they would be able to defeat DAESH despite their guerilla tactics.91

88 UK House of Commons, Oral Evidence - UK Military Operations in Syria and Iraq - 17 Mar 2016, (Westminter, London: United Kingdom, 2016), http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/defence- committee/uk-military-operations-in-syria-and-iraq/oral/30948.html. 89 Ibid. 90 Ibid. 91 British Broadcasting Corporation, "Islamic State and the Crisis in Iraq and Syria in Maps," BBC News, last modified April 3, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034.

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

In this chapter, the writer would like to summarize every key points from every chapter to answer the research question of the thesis which is, “How are the implementation of UK military operation and strategy For Combatting DAESH in Syria and Iraq?” as well as the writer will provide a recommendation.

The threat of DAESH has become treacherous to every countries, especially United Kingdom, and the decision of United Kingdom to join force with USA to create a global coalition was a right decision, by creating the international collaboration with USA and the other states, it will make the works more easier, they also can increase the bond with the other states. The operation shader seem to show a good result even though, UK and the other states have not eliminated the root of this problem. But from the previous chapter we can see how the dedication’s of UK in eliminating the DAESH.

For instance by sending air strike to Iraq and Syria, train troops, provide the humanitarian aid and etc.

Since UK decided to join the coalition in battling DAESH in August 2014, there have been significant progress made so far in the battle. The determinations which the UK has put into gave a great result which can be seen in 2016. Even though the expert was being unconvinced. Especially in Syria as some still believed that the battle has a long way to go and DAESH far from devastated. And also as mentioned before the war still far from over because the DAESH used the Guerilla tactics that made UK and the other global coalition states seem have the difficulties to find their main base. This case should be a distress for the UK and its Military Strategy. As even if their implementation so far has been quite progressive in terms of territory.

If the writer may have the right to give the recommendation. The writer will delight to give some strategies that might help to defeat DAESH. As I mention in the previous chapter, DAESH revert back to use a guerilla tactics, and it definitely made UK and other global coalition states hard to locate them. Even though until know their main base location is unknown. The writer came up with the idea Feigned Withdrawal and empty castle strategy. Those two collaborations will be a perfect match to eliminate DAESH. Those two strategies cannot be merged in to one, because their approach is the opposite way. Those two strategies can be used in different circumstances.

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