The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Raab backs ‘swift’ US air strikes in Iraq after British soldier killed
Fighter jets target Iranian-backed militia blamed for missile attack
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has welcomed US air strikes in Iraq as a “swift, decisive and proportionate” response to a missile attack that killed and injured British and US troops.
The Pentagon said US fighter jets on Thursday struck five locations in targeting the Iranian-backed Shi’ite militia blamed for the attack that killed Lance-Corporal Brodie Gillon.
The 26-year-old, who served as a Reserve with the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, died after a dozen missiles were fired at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, on Wednesday.
Two US servicemen were also killed in the attack and 14 other military personnel were injured, according to the US Defence Department.
In response, five weapons storage facilities were targeted to hinder the Kataib Hezbollah paramilitary group carrying out further attacks, it said.
Mr Raab said: “The response to the cowardly attack on coalition forces in Iraq has been swift, decisive and proportionate.
“We will continue working with our partners to ensure those responsible for these deplorable acts will be held to account.”
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “We reiterate that those who seek to harm our armed forces can expect to receive a strong response.”
L/Cpl Gillon was killed while volunteering as part of the Irish Guards Battle Group during their deployment to Iraq, the Ministry of Defence said.
She joined the regiment in September 2015 as a combat medical technician, before qualifying as a class 1 combat medical technician in 2018.
Lieutenant Colonel William Leek, Commanding Officer Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, said she was a “hugely popular character”, adding that he was “proud and humbled” to have served alongside her.
He said: “She was a larger-than-life soldier who was determined to deploy on operations, help others, develop herself and gain practical experience.
“She had already achieved a great deal in her relatively short time with us and it was abundantly clear that she was destined for great things in her civilian and military careers. Her loss is keenly felt.”
“She was destined for great things in her civilian and military careers. Her loss is keenly felt.
LT COL WILLIAM LEEK