📸 In Pictures: Protecting the UK from all four corners of the globe

24/7, 365 days a year, our Armed Forces work tirelessly around the globe to keep Britain and allies safe. Here are some of the best images capturing just some of their work in 2020.

Over the last 12 months our sailors, soldiers and airmen and women have worked around the globe tackling terrorism, preserving peace and ensuring the safety of the UK and allies.

With 39 operations in 46 countries across the globe in 2020, including in multinational efforts to control COVID-19, our servicemen and women have had a busy year.

Last year saw the UK Armed Forces maintain their presence across the globe from Afghanistan to Estonia. One highlight was the return home of the UK Task Force from the

United Nations

Peacekeeping mission in South Sudan in the Spring. 2020 also saw the UK Task Group deploy to the United Nations Peacekeeping mission in Mali.

Take a look at some of the best images from 2020 below:👇

A sandstorm in Mali while British troops deployed on Operation NEWCOMBE (CH47).

A Royal Air Force Chinook Helicopter takes off for tasking on Operation NEWCOMBE (CH74).

‘Bonny’ is a Military Working Dog attached to the Explosive Ordinance Disposal team within the UK Task Group currently deployed to Mali.

An image of a soldier from the Royal Anglian Regiment walking along the skyline of Salisbury Plain Training Area at dusk.

A soldier from the Royal Artillery attached to the UK Task Group in Mali prepares the ‘Puma’ Unmanned Air Vehicle for launch during a tasking.

A soldier from the Royal Anglian Regiment sits on ‘Stag’ (a.k.a. sentry duty) on the top seat of their Jackal armoured vehicle as the sun goes down.

A group of soldiers from the Light Dragoons rest next to their Jackal armoured vehicle after a day of patrols on exercise.

A Jackal reconnaissance vehicle down on Salisbury Plain.

Images of personnel from the UK Task Group that are currently deployed to Mali.

A Royal Marine embarking on the ‘WESTLANT 19’ deployment

HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Portsmouth

A Royal Marine Mountain Leader during an Ice Climbing serial in Norway.

A Royal Marine Mountain Leader during an Ice Climbing serial in Norway.

A UK peacekeeper deployed on UN peacekeeping operations to South Sudan (Op TRENTON).

Soldiers from C Squadron Light Dragoons board Polish helicopters whilst on deployment in Poland.

Light Dragoons and U.S. counterparts seen getting 40 winks onboard a helicopter, before being inserted into enemy territory during an exercise in Poland.

A soldier from Legion Troop, C Squadron Light Dragoons taking part in a battlegroup squad competition in Poland, whilst deployed on Op CABRIT.

Members of 45 Commando make their way through a forest, whilst on exercise Green Claymore in Scotland.

With the famous star emblazoned on their side, US Marine Corps F-35Bs fly alongside the Royal Air Force and the famous roundel

Two F-35Bs from 617 Squadron take part in Exercise Joint Warrior

A RAF A400M aircraft taxiing before taking off from RAF Brize Norton.

A RAF A400M aircraft taking off from RAF Brize Norton.

The Red Arrows, seen here leading the Patrouille de France (PAF) display team over the River Thames in London.

A RAF Voyager aircraft sits in the harsh winter weather at Mount Pleasant Complex in the Falkland Islands.

The twin engines of a Typhoon FGR4 aircraft, taken at night whilst stationary at Royal Air Force Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Flight Sergeant Dan Whittington of 84 Search and Rescue Squadron from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, participates in a medevac exercise.

HMS Queen Elizabeth leads her Carrier Strike Group.

The crew from HMS Tamar, seen here in a joint boarding training exercises with Royal Marines.

A screengrab taken from a camera within an RAF Typhoon cockpit.

Find out where else the UK Armed Forces are deployed here:👇