News outlets report this morning that President Assad has dismissed claims that his Russian and Iranian allies will abandon him in an attempt to secure a ceasefire deal, arguing that a solution would only come when other countries stopped supporting rebel groups. Other defence news reports look at the Chilcot inquiry, submarine activity and Syria.
Chilcot inquiry
The Guardian splashes this morning with reports that Sir John Chilcot is to apportion blame for Britain's role in Iraq much more widely than had been expected, going well beyond Tony Blair and his inner team, according to sources involved with his six-year inquiry. The report states that while Tony Blair will bear the brunt of the report's criticism, one source said it would suit the former Prime Minister to see a wide range of targets blamed when it is published.
Elsewhere, The Telegraph reports that the families of soldiers killed in Iraq have said they will directly confront Sir John Chilcot after it emerged that he will not set out a timetable for publishing his inquiry. Reports suggest that Sir John is expected to break his silence and tell bereaved families the reasons for the delays in his six-year-long inquiry into the war in Iraq.
HMS Ambush
The Sun runs an article speculating that a nuclear-powered submarine has conducted secret spying missions on Libya before a combat mission to smash smuggling gangs. HMS Ambush's sorties are said to have included pinpointing potential strike targets from air, land or sea. The piece suggests that a mission to end all illegal migrant smuggling from Libya could be within 12 months.
It is our long running policy that we do not comment on submarine activity.
Syria
In a comment piece in The Telegraph, Roger Boyes calls Parliament’s rejection of airstrikes on Syria in 2013 ‘shameful’. He argues that none of the arguments presented against limited military action continue to hold water, and that a new vote presents a chance to make amends and recover some of Britain’s lost influence.
Our latest position on the fight against ISIL can be seen below.
An Ministry Of Defence Spokesperson said:
The UK continues to play a leading role in activity that has, so far, seen ISIL lose 25% of its territory in Iraq - RAF aircraft have carried out more than 260 air strikes and have flown over 1200 missions, we have around 800 people supporting operations against ISIL and have trained nearly 2000 Iraqis on the ground.
As the Defence Secretary has said, we've been clear that ISIL has to be defeated in both Syria and Iraq. We have plenty to do in Iraq, each member of the coalition is doing different things, but ISIL is organised and directed and administered from Syria and there is an illogicality about not being able to tackle the organisation there.
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