Broadcasters lead their bulletins this morning with warnings from the Defence Secretary that a Paris-style terrorist attack could “easily” happen in UK cities such as London, Manchester or Glasgow as he steps up efforts to win MP’s backing for air strikes against ISIL fighters in Syria.
SYRIA
Earlier today, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon appeared on Sunday’s BBC One current affairs programme The Andrew Marr Show. The Defence Secretary set out the reasons why the RAF should join the Coalition conducting air strikes in the Syria, highlighting British capabilities which would allow the Armed Forces to take out specific, important targets with minimal collateral damage. Mr Fallon said that Coalition partners had specifically asked for UK involvement for this very reason. The Defence Secretary also discussed the direct threat ISIL posed to the streets of Britain, arguing that it is more dangerous to do nothing. Read the full transcript of the Andrew Marr Show’s interview with Michael Fallon.
Today’s Sunday Telegraph also includes an interview with the Defence Secretary saying an attack on the UK is highly likely and we have to be ready to respond, and that he will send more Tornados and Reapers but will also deploy Typhoon aircraft for the first time. The Mail on Sunday meanwhile contains comments from Julian Lewis of the Commons Defence Select Committee who said that Britain's fleet of mission-ready Tornados was so small that it could only make a 'marginal' contribution to the war against ISIL. The MOD’s statement is as follows:
Coalition partners have specifically requested UK assistance because we provide around a third of the coalition’s high end precision strike capability – a figure that will increase if we secure parliamentary approval to strike ISIL in Syria as well as Iraq. That means we can strike the most difficult targets at speed, with high precision and minimal collateral damage.
BRITISH TERRORIST
The Sunday Times reports that a British jihadist has been killed during French airstrikes on ISIL in Syria following the terrorist attacks in Paris. The paper says the man, from east London, was killed in Raqqa by an aerial raid which was launched by the French military.
BRITISH FORCES RESCUE
It is reported that a British man who suffered a serious seal bite on a remote South Atlantic island was rescued by a joint Royal Navy and Royal Air Force effort. According to The Sunday Express and The Sun, the victim was attacked by a fur seal, which can weigh up to 50st, and urgently needed medical attention, sparking British forces in the area into action.
Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands, Commodore Darren Bone Royal Navy, said:
This successful rescue operation, conducted at maximum range from the Falkland Islands, demonstrates very clearly the value and capability of British naval and air forces working together. It also highlights the professionalism and dedication of my people, and comes just a week after British Forces worked with the Falkland Islands Government and others to rescue all 347 passengers and crew from the stricken French cruise ship Le Boreal.
We all wish the patient well and are delighted that we were able to deliver him to hospital in Stanley over 24 hours earlier than would have been the case had he remained on the ship.
Read more about the rescue on our blog.
WOMEN IN COMBAT
The Independent on Sunday reports that an official Government review has ruled that female soldiers should no longer be banned from serving in combat roles in the military. The paper writes that the Defence Secretary announced last year the Government was considering reversing the ban on women serving in the infantry and that the review has now concluded that "in principle, there is no reason why [women] should not be able to undertake the full range of combat role”.
Our position is as follows:
On 8 May 2014, the previous Secretary of State for Defence announce a review of the exclusion of women from ground close combat roles. Following the 2014 review, Defence welcomes the prospect of opening further military roles to women, subject to the outcome of further physiological research.
The physiological research programme is investigating how training regimes can be constructed to allow women to integrate safely, whilst protecting combat effectiveness. It will also deliver improved methods for conducting physical training that will have health benefits for the serving population of men and women.
The research programme is expected to deliver an initial report in 2016 which will inform a decision on whether the exclusion can be safely lifted.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
HMS Bulwark is alongside in Valletta to assist the Maltese in security for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
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