Today’s Defence news includes coverage of the Defence Committee Report and further pick up around Iraq Abuse Claims.
Defence Committee Report
The main news outlets reported on the Defence Select Committee report which stated that the UK’s Syria strategy is flawed and the government is failing to implement its policy of waging war on Daesh in Syria. A cross government response highlighted UK activities in the region to help defeat Daesh. The full statement can be seen below:
HMG spokesperson said
The UK is at the forefront of efforts to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria. We have conducted over 1,000 airstrikes, which is second only to the US in both countries, and have helped train more than 25,000 Iraqi forces. As a result, Daesh is losing territory in Iraq and Syria.
Daesh can’t be defeated by military means alone, which is why our strategy tackles its finances, propaganda, flow of foreign fighters and evolving terrorist threat. We’re supporting the Iraqi government to deliver stabilisation, reconciliation and reform, and are working with international partners and the UN towards a political settlement in Syria.
Iraq Abuse Claims
The Times and The Sun reported the Prime Minister’s comments about not allowing 'an industry of vexatious allegations' against British soldiers in Iraq. She said that she refuses to bow to pressure to scrap the body that is sifting 1,500 claims of abuse against British military personnel. The Daily Mail says Rachel Webster was humiliated when physically restrained in her home, but welcomes Theresa May’s warning that IHAT must act swiftly to reject any unwarranted cases, whilst The Sun calls on her to do more to end IHAT.
An MOD spokesperson said
Our armed forces are rightly held to the highest standards and, whilst rare, where there are credible claims of criminal behaviour, we should investigate them. An independent investigation is the best way to make sure that innocent personnel are not dragged through the courts without cause - none of the Op Northmoor allegations investigated far have so far been referred to the SPA.
Somalia
The Times, The Sun and The Independent all report on Prime Minister Theresa May’s first troop deployment after she announced at the UN General Assembly an uplift in troops to Somalia to provide further support in country and to help stem the threat posed by extremist group Al-Shabaab.
The UK is supporting UN missions in both Somalia and South Sudan.
SYRIA
The Telegraph carries the claims made by senior Coalition officials that Russia was directly involved in the bombing of a UN aid convoy on the outskirts of Aleppo in a 'revenge' attack for an earlier air strike that killed 60 Syria soldiers. The paper, along with The Guardian and Daily Mirror report on UN Sec-Gen Ban Ki-moon’s condemnation of the act.
