Defence in the media – Friday 1 July 2016
Today's news items of interest for Defence include reports marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and confirmation that the UK will extend its training mission in support of operations against Daesh in Iraq.
Iraq uplift
The Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Daily Mirror and Daily Express report that Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has announced the UK is sending more military personnel to Iraq, almost doubling the UK presence in the country. Articles note that most of them will be going to Al Asad airbase in Anbar province, western Iraq, 100 miles west of Baghdad. They include trainers, soldiers to protect the base and personnel to set up a headquarters, the articles say, adding that British forces will not be there to fight and will be confined to the limits of the base.
Read more about the UK contribution here.
Battle of the Somme
Today's broadcast headlines all reflect on the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme. All outlets report that the Queen has led events last night at Westminster Abbey to mark 100 years since the Battle, and that overnight vigils were held on the eve of the anniversary across the UK and in France. The BBC and Sky are reporting the ongoing commemorations live. The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mirror, Guardian, Daily Mail, The Sun, Daily Star and Daily Express all hold news articles on the commemorations that started last night and look ahead to events today across the UK and in France.
F-35B UK arrival
The Times, Sun, Daily Star, Daily Express, Daily Telegraph and Daily Mirror follow up on the arrival of the first F-35B to the UK. The articles report that the F-35B touched down at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Wednesday night. They note that the Lockheed Martin joint strike fighter will be known in UK service as the Lightning II. The multirole fighter is the first supersonic jet capable of short take-off and vertical landing. The Defence Secretary’s quote is held in The Times, Daily Star and Daily Mirror where he states that these aircraft will ensure we have a formidable fighting force and that they are part of our plan for a stronger and better defence. The Scottish Sun also notes that the F-35B will fly over the two Queen Elizabeth class carriers today being built in Rosyth.
Read more about the F-35 here.
Kabul attack
The Guardian, Independent (App Edition) report that Taliban militants launched a twin suicide attack yesterday, targeting a convoy of buses carrying Afghan police cadets outside the capital and killing 37 people and wounding 40. Articles reference that the Taliban have lately stepped up their attacks as part of their Summer offensive.
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