Today’s defence articles include reporting on a US airstrike that has killed Daesh’s supposed financial mastermind and articles looking ahead to the Defence Secretary’s meeting with US Defense Secretary Ash Carter today.
Daesh air strikes
The Mirror, BBC News and The Daily Star report that US officials have claimed to have killed the financial mastermind behind Daesh's war chest in an air strike. Abu Salah is reported to have died in a string of coalition air-strikes.
The Sun separately reports that the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon will declare today that RAF air strikes in Syria have “lifted the shadow” over the UK’s special relationship with the US.
Last night the Defence Secretary was interviewed on BBC Newsnight while in Washington speaking about the impact of the extension of operations into Syria a week on from the first airstrikes. Asked about the effect of the strikes, the Defence Secretary noted that the UK had made an impressive start but added there was still a long way to go to defeat Daesh. When asked about whether the UK had forces on the ground directing strike targets, the Defence Secretary said that the UK was providing air support to Kurdish fighters, as well as providing much of the intelligence and analysis that allowed for precision targeting. It was also suggested that the RAF might not be able to sustain the current effort, especially if another threat emerged elsewhere in the world. However, Mr Fallon was clear that the RAF had spare capacity, and was already operating elsewhere, safeguarding the UK and the Falklands. The Defence Secretary ended by stating that he would be reviewing the progress of the fight against Daesh with US Defence Secretary Ash Carter.
HMS St Albans drugs bust
The Daily Mirror and The Sun report that Royal Navy frigate HMS St Alban seized cannabis worth £1million after it was dumped by a smugglers boat in the Mediterranean.
Jutland commemorative events
The Guardian, Express and BBC report that descendants of those who served at sea during the First World War are being encouraged to apply to take part in commemorative events marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland. The Centenary events being held in the Orkney Islands will include a morning service on 31 May 2016 at St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, followed by a ceremony at the Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery at Hoy, where over 400 Commonwealth servicemen and German sailors from the First World War are buried - some as young as 16. For more information on how to apply head to our website.
Alexander Blackman
The Telegraph alleges that a senior Royal Marine non-commissioned officer was prevented from giving evidence that could have helped clear Alexander Blackman of murdering a badly-wounded Taliban fighter. It is claimed in the article that he was prevented from testifying that Sgt Blackman's unit had been left without enough support in a Taliban stronghold. It is reported that new evidence compiled by supporters of Blackman will be handed over to the Criminal Cases Review Body. Our position on the case is here:
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:
The Ministry of Defence has followed and supported the legal process throughout this case. We respect the authority and decision of the courtand will, of course, co-operate fully with any future legal process. Serving members of the military are given routine reminders that, according to the Queens Regulations RN, they are not to attend any political protests, marches, rallies or demonstrations. Any gathering which seeks to protest against a decision taken by the legal system or the government falls into this category.
Michael Adebolojo
The Daily Mail reports on comments from the family of Lee Rigby, condemning the compensation demandreportedly made by Michael Adebolojo. A Prisons Services spokesperson is quoted in the piece saying: “The public will be rightly outraged at the thought of this man receiving compensation from the taxpayer and we robustly defend claims made against the prison service”.
Ebola
The Daily Star reports that Prince William presented medals to 160 British Army medics who helped fight the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. The piece noted that it is the first time that medals have been awarded for a humanitarian crisis.
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