Today’s defence news blog covers the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Private Cheryl James, suggestions that more UK troops could be sent to Afghanistan and aid drops in Syria.
PTE CHERYL JAMES
Broadcasters this morning, including BBC News, have previewed today’s inquest hearing at which the Coroner will deliver his conclusions in relation to the death of Pte Cheryl James at Deepcut barracks in 1995. It would be inappropriate for us to comment ahead of the hearing – we will blog the Army’s response later today
AFGHANISTAN
The Daily Telegraph and Sun report that Britain is in talks with NATO allies to send up to 100 more soldiers back to Afghanistan amid concern that a resurgent Taliban is retaking large parts of the country. Heavy fighting has again swept areas of Helmand, it is reported, where British troops spent years building local forces. Neither article included a MOD response which is below:
Afghan forces are taking a leading role in providing security for their country, supported by NATO. While we routinely look at the support we and other NATO partners give Afghanistan, no decisions have been made.
SYRIA
The Guardian suggests that the United Nations has infuriated the Syrian opposition by saying a commitment to push for air drops to deliver food aid to besieged towns cannot go ahead without Russian permission. The UN and the World Food Programme were under an instruction from the international community to deliver food by air if the Syrian government had not given permission for widespread access to besieged rebel-held towns by 1 June. The instruction was delivered by the 17 nation International Syria Support Group in Vienna, co-chaired by the US and Russia. But at a press conference in Geneva, UN officials reportedly made clear it was still drawing up plans and showed reluctance to press ahead with air food drops, saying the mission was expensive dangerous and liable not to succeed.
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