Today’s Defence related news includes widespread reports of thousands of Syrian refugees fleeing fightingin Aleppo in the past few days, and Daesh activities in Libya.
Syria
There is widespread reporting on the large numbers of civilians who have fled from around Aleppo to Bab al-Salam at the Turkish border. Reports say tens of thousands of refugees have been forced out as a result of a ground offensive by pro-government groups, and say that aid agencies are under pressure to deliver food and shelter. Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is quoted in articles as saying up to 70,000 refugees may be there. Last night NATO’s Secretary General delivered a clip carried on BBC and Sky saying the Russian airstrikes were making the situation worse. Reports also say that Russia’s defence ministry said on Thursday that it had hit almost 900 targets in Syria in the previous three days.
Libya
The Times carries a report saying that Daesh has allegedly doubled its forces in Libya, and publishes a leader say that Daesh is threatening to take the country’s oil resources. The paper urges western intervention before the spring on a limited mission to protect the oil fields with aerial surveillance and strikes on arms depots and command centres.
A Government Spokesperson said:
The UK, along with international partners, is supporting the process to form a recognised Libyan government and we are developing plans to support this. No decisions have been made about the future deployment of any British military forces to Libya as part of an international coalition force.
Fromelles invitations
The Times, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, and Daily Express report that UK relatives and descendants of 1,500 British soldiers killed at the Battle of Fromelles in the First World War have been restricted by Australian organisers from attending a commemoration service near Lille. Some reports say senior Australian military officers have lobbied for the restriction to be lifted.
Image of the Day
His Royal Highness visited soldiers at their base in Weeton Barracks, near Blackpool in Lancashire, earlier today to meet soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancasters Regiment (2 LANCS).
The unit is currently the UK's standby battalion and was at the forefront of the military operations, which provided support to flooded communities throughout December.
Pictured:Soldiers from the LANCS chatting to Prince Harry about their experiences during the flood relief.
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