Today’s Defence news includes reports that the US has carried out air strikes in Daesh-held positions in the terrorist group’s Libyan stronghold of Sirte yesterday.
Libya strikes
There has been widespread coverage this morning reporting that the United States has carried our air strikes in Daesh-held positions in the terrorist group’s Libyan stronghold of Sirte yesterday, marking the first known American airstrikes in the city and the first formal military collaboration with the authorities in Tripoli.
Reports say the Pentagon said that raids were ordered by President Obama and would be followed by further sorties. Fayez al-Sarraj, the Libyan Prime Minister speaking in a televised speech, reportedly said the targets were tank formations and the strikes caused heavy losses.
French Channel Ferry Exercise
Sky News and The Daily Mail have reported that French armed troops have landed a helicopter on a cross Channel ferry yesterday as part of a security exercise. Reporting said Brittany Ferries carried out the exercise on the Mont St Michel ferry, travelling from Portsmouth to Caen, as part of moves to make the highly trained military personnel part of the security network.
Announcements in English and French alerted up to 800 passengers that they were in the middle of a security exercise, reports say. The marshals, who are part of the French military, patrolled the ship and carried out other security measures, according to reports.