Multi-National Division (South-East) (Iraq)

Multi-National Division (South-East) (MND(SE)) was a British commanded division responsible for security in the south east of Iraq from 2003 to 2009. It was responsible for the large city of Basra (or Basrah) and its headquarters were located at Basra Airport. The division was initially responsible for the governorates (roughly provinces) of Al Muthanna, Maysan, Basra, and Dhi Qar. MND-SE was a subordinate division of Multi-National Corps Iraq. Multi-National Corps Iraq was itself part of Multi-National Force-Iraq.

In aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which had the British codename 'Operation Telic,' the British 1st Armoured Division and 3rd Mechanised Division were successively responsible for the command and control of the occupation forces in south east Iraq. After 3rd Mechanised Division's tour of duty came to an end it was replaced by the composite headquarters of MND(SE). Since then the division has been made up primarily of British units with other nations in support. Most of the combat firepower of the division has been centred around the British brigade group deployed at the time and the division also contained an Italian brigade for a period.

The area around Basra was much quieter than the American occupation zone further north but there were a significant number of incidents in which forces of the division have been killed. British-led forces primary mission for the latter half of their mission in Iraq was to hand over all responsibility for security to Iraqi forces.

When the Polish-led Multinational Division Central-South withdrew from Iraq MND (SE) may have taken over responsibility for additional Iraqi governorates. The merged Multinational Division Central-South and Multi-National Division (South-East) became Multi-National Division (South).

Major General Andy Salmon (COMUKAMPHIBFOR) handed over command of the area to the U.S. 10th Mountain Division on 31 March 2009 and the division headquarters closed on that day. The British forces making up the division were scheduled to be withdrawn from Iraq by April 30, 2009. After a transfer of authority on May 20, 2009, the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, an Army National Guard Division from Minnesota commanded by Major General Richard C. Nash assumed control of the sector which would enventually redesignate to become U.S. Division-South in August 2009.

In January 2010 the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division transferred authority of USD-S to the 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, KS under the command of then Major General Vincent K. Brooks.

In December 2010, United States Division-South commanded by the 1st Infantry Division transferred authority to the 36th Infantry Division(Texas National Guard). In September 2011, United States Division-South cased it's colors and was combined with United States Division-Center until United States Forces-Iraq cased it's colors on December 16, 2011 marking the end of Operation New Dawn and the war in Iraq.

Order of battle

In the months following the end of the invasion, the division expanded to include UK, Italian, Japanese, Australian, Romanian, Danish, Portuguese,Japanese, Czech and Lithuanian troops. As of February 2007, the Australians, Romanians, Danes, Czechs and Lithuanians remain (see Multinational Force in Iraq for further information). The UK itself has about 5,500 personnel currently serving in Iraq, separated into the following battlegroups, as of 1 June 2007:

Land Component

• Headquarters, 1st Mechanised Brigade
• Messines & Cambrai Company from London Regt (Force protection)
• 215th Signal Squadron, Royal Signals
• Two squadrons from the Household Cavalry Regiment
• The King's Royal Hussars
• Two squadrons from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment
• 1st Battalion, Irish Guards
• One company from 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh
• 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh
• 4th Battalion, The Rifles
• 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
• 22nd Engineer Regiment
• One squadron from 23rd Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
• 3rd Logistic Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
• One company from 6th Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• 3rd Close Support Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps
• 158th Provost Company, 3rd Regiment, Royal Military Police
• 22nd Battery, 32nd Regiment, Royal Artillery
• 34rd Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps

Air Component

• 845 Naval Air Squadron (Sea King Mk 4)
• Detachment from 652 Squadron, Army Air Corps (Lynx)
• No. 1419 Flight RAF (Merlin)
• No. 1 Squadron RAF Regiment
• 4th Force Protection Wing
• No. 120 Squadron RAF/No. 201 Squadron RAF (Nimrod MR2)
• No. 51 Squadron RAF (Nimrod R1)
• 814 Naval Air Squadron (Merlin)
• No. 216 Squadron RAF (TriStar)
• No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF (BAE125/BAE146)
• No. 617 Squadron RAF (Tornado GR4)
• No. 23 Squadron RAF/No. 30 Squadron RAF (C-130J Hercules)
• No. 101 Squadron RAF (VC10)

Maritime component

• HMS Cornwall
• HMS Enterprise
• RFA Bayleaf
• Two Mine Countermeasures vessels
• Contribution to the 60-man joint US-UK 'Naval Transition Team'