Today’s defence-related news includes coverage of two ex-service dogs and the speculation around the Royal Marines training with the French military.
Military working dogs
The Sun and The Daily Mail reports on the situation of two ex-service dogs, Kevin and Daz, who had once served in Afghanistan.
Secretary of State for Defence, The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP, said:
I’ve instructed my department these dogs are to be saved. We’re talking with charities and looking at a programme as to whether they can be re-housed with a handler in a more normal environment.
The Royal Marines training with the French Military
The Daily Mail and The Times report on the speculative claims that The Royal Marine's have been offered possible joint training and deployment opportunities with the French military.
An MOD spokesperson said:
In the face of intensifying threats, we are contributing to the cross-government review of national security capabilities and looking at how we best spend our rising defence budget to protect our country. No decisions have yet been made, and at this stage, any discussion of the options is pure speculation.
The International Criminal Court investigations
The Guardian covers the International Criminal Court's recent report on outstanding Iraq war crimes.
A Government spokesperson said:
“We have a legal responsibility to investigate credible allegations of wrongdoing by UK forces, and that is what we are already doing as part of Service Police Legacy Investigations, which is reviewing the relatively small number of remaining cases after the closure of IHAT, and through Operation Northmoor.
“We are confident that our existing efforts to investigate allegations preclude the need for any investigation by the ICC.”
Image of the day
UK troops have been deployed as and Engineering and Medical Taskforce, providing vital support to the UN in its mission to protect civilians and build durable peace.