Of note in Defence news today is further coverage about a potential deployment of UK military personnel to Libya, and reporting that Syrian forces have entered parts of Palmyra.
Libya
The Sunday Telegraph reports on its front page that there has been criticism around UK involvement in a military mission to Libya. Foreign Affairs Select Committee chairman Crispin Blunt is quoted as saying that a plan of sending troops anywhere near Tripoli, which the article says is likely to be a base for a ‘mission green zone', would be ‘a singularly bad idea’. The MOD's position on Libya can be seen in full below.
An MOD spokesperson said:
The UK continues to work with international partners on how best to support the new Libyan government. All planning has been focussed on training Libyan Security Forces to provide their own security to the Government and Libyan people. No decisions have been made about the future deployment of any British military forces.
Palmyra
The Sky News website is among those that follows last night’s broadcast reporting that Syrian forces have entered parts of the ancient city of Palmyra following a series of victories against Daesh. Footage showed jets flying above the site, and commentators have said it will take some time to assess the damage caused during Daesh’s occupation of the city.
South Sudan
The Sunday Times carries a report quoting landmine clearance firm TDI and an analyst for International Crisis Group suggesting that UK personnel deploying to South Sudan as part of a UN peacekeeping mission are at risk of danger. The MOD's position can be seen in full below.
An MOD spokesperson said:
UK Armed Forces will be supporting vital UN peacekeeping work in South Sudan. The UK takes force protection very seriously, and all the necessary measures will be put in place to ensure the safety of UK personnel.
MOD reports
The Daily Star Sunday carries a story that the MOD’s annual reports have shown that £344m of spend, including on projects, was written off last year. The MOD position can be seen in full below.
An MOD spokesperson said:
Writing off of expenditure is sometimes the right decision to take in the interests of value for money in the longer term.
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