Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Recent updates on Paris tragedy.

Two men paint a mural in tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks, in Paris, 14 November 2015

President Hollande has vowed to destroy Islamic State, saying it cannot be contained. He has taken a stand and Les Français are plain speaking and practical. They will not be intimidated. If France had to achieve this goal without help from allies, they would still do their damndest. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Paris and is due to hold talks with President Francois Hollande later this morning. Mr Kerry, says his visit to Paris is to demonstrate Washington's support for a key ally.
In the wake of the attacks, the two countries have tightened their military co-operation, boosting the exchange of intelligence to help French air strikes against IS.
Standing outside the US embassy on Monday, Mr Kerry called France America's oldest friend and first ally, and said the only response to the attacks must be a fierce sense of solidarity.
"Your American sisters and brothers will stand with you shoulder to shoulder as we have stood together throughout history. Tonight we are all Parisians," he said.
Mr Kerry added that the fight against IS was not a clash of civilizations.
"They are in fact psychopathic monsters. There's nothing civilized about them," he said.
After he spoke the building was illuminated in the blue, white and red of the French flag.

****
Ten French warplanes have conducted new strikes in Syria targeting a command centre and a recruitment centre for fighters of the Islamic State (IS) group in the stronghold of Raqqa, a spokesman for France's military command told Reuters news agency.  Apparently they were both direct hits. The barrage of strikes they have carried out since Sunday has been a relentless pounding of Islamic State camps, headquarters, hideouts, supply depots and weapons and ammunition warehouses. There were reportedly seven strikes overnight on Monday.

****

Belgium's government has raised its terror threat level, causing Tuesday's football match between the national team and Spain to be cancelled.


****
Heavy security is expected to be in place for Tuesday night's friendly football match between England and France at Wembley stadium in London. England manager Roy Hodgson has said in light of the events in Paris the game will be "far, far greater than a football match". There will be a number of tributes paid to the victims of the attacks before the game. Prince William is attending. At the same time a game between Belgium and Spain due to be played in Brussels has been called off because of security fears.
****
Prime Minister David Cameron has already announced extra funding for UK special forces, such as the elite SAS, following Friday's attacks.


****
President Hollande told a rare joint session of the French parliament on Monday that he would table a bill to extend for three months the state of emergency declared after the attacks. He said thousands more police officers would be recruited.


****

Early on Monday, French police carried out more than 160 raids on suspected Islamist militants. A total of 23 people were arrested, 104 put under house arrest, and dozens of weapons seized, officials said.


No comments:

Post a Comment

Through this ever open gate
None come too early
None too late
Thanks for dropping in ... the PICs