Leading today's Defence news are reports that Iran detained two US navy vessels in the Persian Gulf, and there is further coverage of training deaths in the Armed Forces.
US vessels
Multiple media outlets, including the The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and BBC R4 Today programme, follow up last night’s news that Iran had seized two US navy crafts. Reports say the Pentagon confirmed it briefly lost contact with two vessels, but had since received assurances from Iran that the crew and boats will be returned safely. Reports online today suggest all sailors have since been released.
Training deaths
Newspapers follow up yesterday's broadcast reporting of statistics which show around 5% of military deaths are training related. The Daily Telegraph, The Times and Daily Mail all carry stories, and coverage reflects that since 2000 there have been 131 such deaths. One specialist lawyer is quoted in articles saying the figures suggest the MOD is not learning lessons from such incidents. The MOD's full position can be seen below:
A MOD spokesperson said:
It will always be necessary to train and test our military personnel to the highest possible levels so that they can help keep us safe. This necessarily involves individuals pushing themselves and taking some risks but all training activity is conducted to ensure these are as low as reasonably practical.
Daesh
The Sun, The Daily Telegraph and The Times report David Cameron told the Liaison Committee last night there are probably hardline Islamists among the 70,000 non-extremist fighters cited last year as being ready to tackle Daesh in Syria.
Lariam
The Daily Telegraph carries an article reporting that the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans has apologised to any personnel who may have been wrongly prescribed the anti-malaria drug Lariam. The article says that during at a Defence Committee hearing, Mark Lancaster said some troops may not have been given a risk assessment to check they were safe to take the drug. The MOD’s position on the military’s use of Mefloquine, also known as Lariam, can be seen below.
A MOD spokeperson said:
No anti-malarial treatments are without associated side effects but it is crucial we protect our personnel from this potentially fatal disease upon deployment to affected areas. We need to be able to use the most appropriate drug in order to ensure resistance and base our advice on the current guidelines set out by Public Health England. Mefloquine is used throughout the world but is not prescribed widely in the UK military, and only after an individual risk assessment.
Istanbul
There is widespread reporting, including in The Financial Times, The Guardian, Daily Express, The Daily Telegraph and The Times that Turkey has blamed Daesh for the blast in Istanbul yesterday that killed 10 people.
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