Which country's longest continuous deployment began because of intense political and sectarian rioting in Northern Ireland?
Operation Banner Operation Banner was the operational name for the British Armed Forces' operation in Northern Ireland from August 1969 to July 2007, as part of the Troubles. It was the longest continuous deployment in the British military's history. The British Army was initially deployed, at the request of the unionist government of Northern Ireland, in response to the August 1969 riots. Its role was to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and to assert the authority of the British government in Northern Ireland. At the peak of the operation in the 1970s, about 21,000 British troops were deployed, most of them from Britain. As part of the operation, a new locally-recruited regiment was also formed: the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).
Flag of Northern Ireland The official flag of Northern Ireland is the Union Flag of the United Kingdom. From 1953 until 1973, the Ulster Banner (also known as the Ulster flag) was used by the Parliament of Northern Ireland; however, since its abolition use of the flag has been limited to representing Northern Ireland in certain sports, at the Commonwealth of Nations, at some local councils and at some other organisations and occasions. Despite this, the Ulster Banner is still commonly seen and referred to as the flag of Northern Ireland, especially by those from the unionist and loyalist communities.