Today’s broadcast bulletins lead with reporting that the Syria truce agreement which came into effect last night seems to have held so far.
TRIDENT
There are numerous pieces in the papers on the nuclear deterrent. The MOD’s position is below.
The UK's independent nuclear deterrent is the ultimate guarantee of our nation's safety which is why the government is committed to maintaining it. We estimate costs will amount to around 0.2% per year of government spending – a small price to pay to ensure the security of British citizens.
OPERATION GRANBY
The Armed Forces yesterday paid tribute to the thousands of Servicemen and women who fought in the First Gulf War with a series of events to mark the 25th anniversary of the conflict. Many of the papers, including The Daily Mail and The Sun, covered the Operation GRANBY 25th wreath laying service at St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday.
Defence Minister Lord Howe, who attended the ceremony, said:
It was a huge honour to take part in this event to mark the 25th anniversary of the First Gulf War and a humbling experience to meet those who took part, including the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the conflict.
They engaged a dangerous and unpredictable enemy, standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to liberate the nation of Kuwait and save countless lives. Our servicemen and women made us proud, and they continue to deserve our admiration today.
You can read more about Armed Forces tributes across the nation here.
AFGHAN WAR INJURY STATISTICS
The Sun reports on figures released by the MOD which show that 4,220 troops were injured during the Afghan war. The numbers – lower than previous estimates – were compiled between April 1, 2006 and November 30, 2014 when the UK Field Hospital was operational. It says the report was only published to quell FOI requests.
The full statistics can be found on GOV.UK.
MILITARY POLICE
The Daily Mirror claims there are safety concerns for Armed Forces personnel as the number of military police officers fell by 13% since 2010 across three branches.
A MOD spokesperson said:
The Service Police continue to meet all their operational commitments. These personnel reductions were implemented through the SDSR 2010, when the Services assessed that military police forces would be able to continue to meet their requirements. This has proven to be the case.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Follow us on Twitter and don’t forget to sign up for email alerts.