Today’s defence news includes the Defence Secretary appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show, his comments on Britain’s work within the coalition against Daesh, IHAT and the training of the first all-female British Army Team attempting to cross the Antarctic.
BBC ANDREW MARR SHOW
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has today appeared on the BBC Andrew Marr Show for a wide ranging interview ahead of a Counter-Daesh Ministerial meeting that will happen next Thursday in London.
The interview covered a variety of defence related issues, including Britain’s work in the coalition against Daesh, the on-going conflicts in Syria and NATO among other issues. The full interview can be watched here.
COUNTER-DAESH COALITION
A number of papers, including the Sunday Telegraph, the Sun and Express have reported that RAF pilots are the busiest they have been in 25 years, dropping 11 times more bombs against Daesh targets than during the height of operations in Afghanistan.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:
Britain is stepping up and making one of the biggest military contributions to defeating Daesh. The British Army have trained over 30,000 Iraqi and Peshmerga who are taking the fight to Daesh and the RAF, alongside our allies, are pounding Daesh in some of the most intense operations for decades.
Working with our international partners to defeat these evil Daesh terrorists helps make the world more secure and the streets of the Britain safer.
IRAQI HISTORIC ALLEGATIONS TEAM
The Daily Telegraph reports that an Iraqi was paid over £110,000 by IHAT to carry out administrative tasks, while also working at the same time for the legal firm Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) to help secure further business and help bring cases against British soliders.
A Ministry of Defence Spokesperson said:
The conduct of investigations is a matter for IHAT. However, the MOD has made it clear that public money must not be used to pay agents who work against our troops, and we have received assurances that that is the case.
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