This morning, the battle for Mosul continues to be the central focus for both broadcast and print media.
Mosul
There is blanket coverage this morning across the print media reporting that the military operation to recapture Mosul from Daesh has begun.
The Times, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror and the Daily Express all focus on role of the UK, noting that Britain has joined the fight in Mosul with the RAF carrying out air strikes. It has also been widely noted that Mr Fallon has predicted a successful push for Mosul after RAF fighter planes and drones destroyed strategic Daesh positions and weapons caches. It is reported that seven days of intensive activity by Typhoon, Tornado fighter jets and Reaper unmanned planes prepared the ground for 35,000 Iraqi foot soldiers and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
Daesh are on the back foot. The beginning of the encirclement of Mosul today is a big moment in our efforts to rid Iraq of Daesh. Mosul is a large and complex city and operations there will be tough but with Coalition support Iraqi forces will prevail. Alongside our Coalition partners, the UK will continue to play a leading role in the air and on the ground, including through our strike missions, specialised surveillance, humanitarian support and the mentoring and training of Iraqi forces.
Armed Forces recruitment age
BBC Breakfast included a report on the healthcare lobby group, Medact, looking at Armed Forces’ recruitment age. The piece includes interview an interview British Army veteran, Simon Weston, who said it was a good decision for him as he needed discipline and it gave him many opportunities. He went on to say that the report from the charity is not independent and is biased so needs to be taken with a ‘pinch of salt’.
An MOD spokesperson said:
The Armed Forces offer young people opportunities that aren’t available elsewhere, from basic literacy education and support for postgraduate degrees, to high-quality accredited training and unique employment prospects. Like everyone who serves our country, under 18s – who can only sign up with formal written consent of a parent or guardian – are fully supported throughout their service career.
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