Of note for defence in today’s media, there is coverage of former Chief of the General Staff Lord Dannatt’s comments, calling for UK ground troops to combat ISIL on the battlefields of Iraq and Syria.
ISIL ground campaign
Writing in the Mail on Sunday and also reported across other outlets including the Sunday Express, the former Chief of the General Staff Lord Richard Dannatt says the default option of air strikes and limited assistance to indigenous forces has “failed thus far” in the fight against ISIL, and called for the Government to “think the unthinkable” and prepare to send 5,000 British ground troops to fight ISIL.
He says that plans should be drawn up for a brigade-sized deployment of infantry soldiers, backed by Apache attack helicopters, artillery and armoured vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times reports that diplomats are preparing for the evacuation of the British embassy inBaghdad and destruction of classified documents amid mounting fears about the threat posed by ISIL terrorists. The paper claims that British officials increasingly believe efforts to retrain the Iraqi army to fight back ISIL have failed.
An MOD spokesperson said:
With over 7000 graduates it is incorrect to suggest that the coalition training programme has failed and we have been clear that defeating ISIL will take time and patience.
Iraqi Security Forces have retaken large areas from ISIL proving that the terrorist organisation are under increasing pressure and are losing both territory and fighters. With a 60-nation coalition backing the Iraqis we're confident they will retain this momentum but British combat forces will not be on the ground fighting; Iraqi troops will lead the fight as they have done so far.
In addition, we know we must tackle ISIL in Syria as well as Iraq. That’s why our plans have been set out to contribute around 85 military personnel to US-led efforts to train the moderate Syrian opposition. We will train thousands of screened members of the opposition over the next 3 years on areas such as use of small arms, infantry tactics and medical skills.
We have long said that there would be ebb and flow in the fight against ISIL. As the Prime Minister has said, this will be a long process, but we will, working with the Government of Iraq and coalition partners, eventually be successful.
As of 18 May 2015, Tornado has flown 387 combat missions, conducting 141 successful strikes. RAF Reaper has flown 450 missions, conducting 110 successful strikes. Both aircraft continue to also provide vital intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assistance as part of an international coalition in support of the Iraqi Government.
British Embassy in Baghdad
The Sunday Times reports that diplomats are preparing for the evacuation of the British embassy in Baghdad and destruction of classified documents amid mounting fears about the threat posed by ISIL terrorists. The paper claims that British officials increasingly believe efforts to retrain the Iraqi army to fight back ISIL have failed.
An MOD spokesperson said:
With over 7000 graduates it is incorrect to suggest that the coalition training programme has failed and we have been clear that defeating ISIL will take time and patience.
Iraqi Security Forces have retaken large areas from ISIL proving that the terrorist organisation are under increasing pressure and are losing both territory and fighters. With a 60-nation coalition backing the Iraqis we're confident they will retain this momentum but British combat forces will not be on the ground fighting; Iraqi troops will lead the fight as they have done so far.
Royal Navy NATO exercise
It is reported that HMS Ocean is to join 50 warships and submarines next month near the heavy militarised Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. The Sunday Express writes that Royal Navy chiefs have directed the fleet’s biggest warship to spearhead the high-level NATO exercise, as part of a direct response to Moscow’s increasing “military surveillance” of the West.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times says that around 80 Royal Marines plus US Marines will storm a beach in landing craft from HMS Ocean, while Apache attack helicopters provide simulated covering fire.
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