14.1 | Military equipment (post-conflict)

in Section 9.3. The impact of events on the progress of SSR is described in Section 12.1

and the impact on reconstruction is provided in Section 10.2.

276. The JIC Assessment of the security situation in Iraq on 21 July stated:

“We also judge that Lebanese Hizballah will retain an influence in Iraq (Hizballah

members may have been linked to the group that attacked the Sheraton Hotel,134

and could supply Iraqi groups with terrorist expertise and munitions.”135

277. On 26 July, the DIS reported that an EFP IED had been found on 15 July

in Baghdad.136 The DIS noted that the EFP IED design had not previously been

encountered in Iraq but was, as with the find in May 2004, of a type associated

with Lebanese Hizballah. There were also indications of Iranian involvement in

the construction of the devices.

278. The DIS concluded:

“Irrespective of the attribution of the design, production or employment of these

charges, their presence and use in attacks against Multi‑National Forces in Iraq is

a significant force protection issue.”

279. A JIC Assessment was produced on 11 August about the recent upsurge of Shia

violence.137 It stated that Iran was “establishing agent networks, providing funding

and material to a number of Shia groups and generally seeking to gain influence” and

judged that “Iranian encouragement, funding and possibly arms” were “being provided

to al‑Sadr and the Mahdi Army”; but the “exact degree of Iranian involvement” remained

“unclear”.

280. On 12 August, Private Marc Ferns was killed by a roadside IED while driving a

Warrior vehicle.138 The vehicle had its hatches open to increase visibility and because

of the lack of air conditioning in the vehicle. The blast penetrated the open hatch,

killing Pte Ferns.

281. A Current Intelligence Group (CIG) Assessment the following week stated that

theatre had reported that a number of Iranian sourced weapons had been seized in

al‑Amara.139

282. General Sir Timothy Granville‑Chapman, Commander in Chief Land Command,

visited Iraq later that month.140 His report to General Jackson highlighted that the

134 Iraqi insurgents launched rocket attacks on two hotels in Baghdad on 2 July 2004, one of which was

the Sheraton: BBC News, 2 July 2004, Rocket blasts hit Baghdad hotels.

135 JIC Assessment, 21 July 2004, ‘Iraq Security’.

136 Report DIS, 26 July 2004, ‘Further Evidence of Lebanese Hizballah produced weapons in Iraq’.

137 JIC Assessment, 11 August 2004, ‘Iraq Security: Shia Violence’.

138 PJHQ OPSUM, 16 August 2004, ‘PJHQ Middle East Operations Team OPSUM 138 as at 161659Z

Aug 04’.

139 CIG Assessment, 18 August 2004, ‘Iraq security’.

140 Letter Granville‑Chapman to Jackson, 20 August 2004, [untitled].

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