The first of 250 British troops have arrived in Mali, offering up reconnaissance expertise to the UN peacekeeping mission there.
Operation Newcombe is the UK’s support to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. Personnel from the Light Dragoons and 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment are now deployed to the West African nation.
A further 50 will form part of a National Support Element, including administrators and logisticians.
Mali is a country that has been embattled with violent conflict in recent years.
A number of terrorist organisations including al-Qaeda and splinter groups, JNIM and ISGS, operate in and around the region – putting civilian lives at risk.
The UK Armed Forces will help provide intelligence to operations in order to help protect innocent members of the public, working out of a base in Gao, in the east of the country.
