Where are British troops and why?
The UK's armed forces are deployed across the world in a range of roles. Use the map and detailed information below to find out how many are where, and why.
OPERATIONAL
Gulf: 8,891
Afghanistan: 2,000
Bosnia: 598
Kosovo: 194
UN missions: 317
NON-OPERATIONAL
Germany: 22,500
Northern Ireland: 11,000
Cyprus: 2,761
Falkland Islands: 1,177
Gibraltar: 558
Ascension Island: 40
Diego Garcia: 39
According to MoD, operational deployments are those announced by defence secretary in parliament involving commitment to specific theatre. Non-operational deployments do not involve fighting role.
IRAQ
Iraq is the army's highest profile but not biggest deployment abroad
By far the most high profile UK commitment overseas is Operation Telic - the name given to the deployment of 8,000 personnel in Iraq.
Since the end of the war in April 2003, they have been helping to restore essential infrastructure and services and provide security. UK forces are mainly based in the south of the country, where insurgent activity has been less intensive than in some other areas.
In May 2006 the deployment is being reduced by 800 troops, although Defence Secretary John Reid - making the announcement on 13 March - stressed that the UK's commitment in Iraq would be maintained "as long as we are needed, and wanted, and until the job is done".
AFGHANISTAN
At present the UK has about 2,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan, following the US-led invasion.
On 1 May 2006, it took over security duties from the US in the volatile Helmand province in the south of the country.
As the UK increases its deployment to the country to a peak of 5,700 in the coming months, the majority will be in Helmand - an area of major Taleban activity and opium production.
The enlarged deployment, announced in January, will cost £1bn over the three years that the Ministry of Defence expects it to last.
Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) mission currently numbers about 9,200 troops. It is expected to increase the overall number to about 15,000.
KOSOVO
About 194 troops remain in Kosovo, helping to provide stability following the end of the conflict of the late 1990s.
The province is administered by the UN, which is working to reconcile the majority ethnic Albanians and the Serb minority.
Tensions continue to flare up however, and in March 2005 extra British troops were sent to the province at the request of Nato.
BOSNIA
As with Kosovo, the role of British armed forces in Bosnia is one of peacekeeping, and some 598 troops remain.
A European Union-led force, Eufor, is responsible for safeguarding peace and stability following the inter-ethnic war of 1992-95, in which about 250,000 people died.
UN MISSIONS
The Ministry of Defence is involved in supporting a wide range of United Nations missions in countries around the world.
At present 317 British troops are deployed as part of the UN operations, in countries including Sierra Leone, Cyprus, Liberia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Georgia.
NORTHERN IRELAND
There is still a sizeable army presence in Northern Ireland
Some 11,000 British troops are still stationed in Northern Ireland, although their work is among those classed as non-operational.
According to the MoD: "The Mission of the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland is to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland in the defeat of terrorism and the maintenance of Public Order in order to assist Her Majesty's Government's objective of returning Northern Ireland to normality."
GERMANY
Although much smaller than its deployment in Germany at the height of the Cold War, the UK retains 22,000 troops in the country - its largest overseas contingent by far.
Germany provides an important base for training and many of the troops are involved in the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, of which Britain is the lead nation.
CYPRUS
Although Cyprus has been an independent republic since the 1960s, Britain retains two areas of sovereign territory on the island which it uses as bases for almost 2,800 troops.
Covering 98 square miles, the bases are used to give the UK a foothold at a strategic point in the Mediterranean. In particular, the MoD describes RAF Akrotiri as "an important staging post for military aircraft".
FALKLAND ISLANDS
More than 20 years after the end of the Falklands War, Britain retains a strong presence on the islands, with 1,177 troops stationed there.
While the status of the British Overseas Territory is still disputed by Argentina, the personnel are also involved in tasks including road building and mine clearance.
GIBRALTAR
Gibraltar is at the Mediterranean's narrow entrance
Considered an important base in the Mediterranean, Gibraltar is home to 558 British troops.
The MoD says the Rock is "well situated to observe shipping channels through the Straits and it could dominate the western entrance to the Mediterranean in time of war".
ASCENSION ISLAND
In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, far-flung Ascension Island was used as a staging post during the Falklands War - a role it retains.
The 40 British troops there are linked to the UK by regular flights to RAF Brize Norton and a six-weekly cargo ship from the MoD.
DIEGO GARCIA
The British territory of Diego Garcia, in the Chagos archipelago in the Indian Ocean, has been a military base since the island was leased to the US in the 1970s.
Currently numbering 39, fewer than 50 UK personnel are stationed at the base at any one time.
OTHER
The Royal Navy was involved in Sri Lanka after the tsunami
After the Asian tsunami disaster, British forces were involved in providing emergency relief to the stricken areas - delivering supplies and helping with rebuilding work.
Late last year, a small force was deployed to Cote d'Ivoire to evacuate British citizens as violence flared.
Such "one-off" operations often fall to the military, requiring the rapid deployment of personnel.
Other overseas deployments include training, exchanges and "loans" to armed forces in countries like Belize, Canada, Kenya, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
news.bbc.co.uk
