Latest news with #soldier
BBC News
19 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Catterick soldier dies after physical training session
A 19-year-old soldier has died following a physical training session at a barracks in North Yorkshire, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has Harry Johnson, of the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, died after the session at Vimy Barracks in Catterick on 24 July, just three months after he had joined MoD said in a statement Pte Johnson, who was "genuine, kind and funny", had joined the Army on 13 April and had "already proved himself to have enormous potential as a soldier".Officials said they confirmed his death "with immense sadness" and added that their thoughts were with his family and friends. "Although he only joined the Army recently, Pte Johnson exemplified the values and standards of the British Army and applied them in everything he did," the MoD said."He was one of the hardest working members of the platoon; reliable and disciplined."He served much of his time within 3 Platoon, B Company in the 1st Infantry Training Battalion and completed Basic Training on 11 Jul 2025. "He was awarded Best Shot within 3 Platoon at his Pass Off Parade, an achievement he was extremely proud to win. Shortly afterwards, Pte Johnson started his Infantry Initial Trade Training with Bruneval Platoon." 'Loyalty and humour' The MoD added he had "high standards of physical fitness" and always had "a smile on his face and a genuine love for the job". They added: "The loss of Pte Johnson is a tragic blow to all those who worked with him, the Parachute Regiment and most importantly his family. "To lose someone so young with so much potential is extremely hard to take, and those closest to him are distraught. "He will be remembered fondly by all who knew him and were touched by his loyalty, humour, and selflessness." Lt Col Ben Jesty, Commanding Officer, 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, said they were "heartbroken by the loss of Pte Harry Johnson from the Infantry family"."A proud and passionate future Paratrooper he represented the best of his generation. "Although early in his career he had already shown significant potential," he Toby Staker, Bruneval Platoon Commander, Parachute Regiment Training Company, added: "Despite my relationship with Pte Johnson being only brief, it was clear to see that he fully understood the journey that he was on. "He carried himself with pride, humility, and steadfast confidence well beyond his years."Pte Noah Merriman, of Bruneval Platoon, said he had first met Pte Johnson during Phase I Training and had been struck by his "politeness and caring nature"."He was always willing to help others and brought a positive energy to the group. Harry had a good sense of humour and could always make us smile with his easy-going attitude."I remember him often talking to his girlfriend in the evenings with his headphones in, which became a familiar and endearing sight."He said Pte Johnson had been a "genuine, friendly and dependable person". Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Bloomberg
Cambodians Displaced by Border Violence Seek Refuge
A long-simmering border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia escalated to deadly violence on July 24 as their military forces clashed at multiple spots. The Thai government said that more than a dozen people were killed including a soldier, and scores were injured, while Cambodian officials had yet to report on casualties. (Source: Bloomberg)
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Yahoo
IDF soldier suffering from self-inflicted gunshot succumbs to his wounds
The soldier was named as Corporal Dan Mandel Philipson, 18, from Norway. He was a combat soldier in training in the IDF's Paratroopers Brigade. The IDF soldier who was seriously wounded on Tuesday, after apparently suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, has died from his wounds, the military confirmed Sunday. The military has opened an investigation into the incident. It remains unclear if the event was an attempted suicide or an accident. The soldier was named as Corporal Dan Mandel Philipson, 18, from Norway. He was a combat soldier in training in the IDF's Paratroopers Brigade. His funeral will be held at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem at 3:00 p.m. Last week, an IDF soldier from the Nahal Brigade took his own life on a military base in the Golan Heights. The soldier, whose name has not been cleared for publication, had fought in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas War. Investigations opened into deaths of IDF soldiers An investigation has been opened by the military police, and upon conclusion, the findings will be presented to the military prosecution. The Nahal soldier was the second soldier to have taken his own life this month, after Daniel Edri took his life earlier in July in the Biriya forest near Safed, the town where he grew up.
Al Arabiya
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Israel indicts soldier on charges he spied for Iran
Israeli authorities have charged a soldier with spying for Iran in exchange for money, the police and security agency Shin Bet said in a statement on Thursday. The statement said the soldier, who was not named, had sent the Iranians videos of Israeli missile interceptions and sites hit by Iranian rocket fire in last month's 12-day war between the arch enemies. The security service said he had not sent material collected during his duties with the Israeli army and added that none of the information given to Iran had been classified. However, the statement said: 'This is considered a particularly grave incident involving direct contact between an [Israeli army] soldier and hostile foreign elements.' A military court ordered that he should remain in custody until next week. News of the indictment came just one day after Israel launched an unusual, nationwide media campaign warning citizens against spying for Iran. The ads said people who took Iranian cash in return for information faced up to 15 years in prison. For its part, Iran has executed several people over the past month after they were convicted of collaborating with Israel and facilitating covert operations in the country.
The Guardian
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
The spreadsheet, the superinjunction and the relocation scheme: Afghan data leak
Two and a half years ago, a British soldier pressed 'send' on an email that was to cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds and change the lives of thousands of people. That email contained the names and details of over 18,000 people who had applied for asylum under the Afghan resettlement scheme, many of whom would have been obvious targets for reprisals by the Taliban. Since then, more and more people have come to find out about that leak, and yet the news remained secret until this week, protected by an extraordinary government superinjunction. Now that the details of the leak and the subsequent secret resettlement scheme are public, questions are turning to who knew what, and when? Military officers ask a soldier working out of special forces headquarters to help verify the names of people who were applying for asylum under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap). The soldier sends a spreadsheet containing all 18,000 names to Afghan contacts in the UK, who then pass it on to others in Afghanistan. Officials say the soldier only intended to send 150 names for verification, and did not know the entire database was actually contained on the spreadsheet either in hidden rows or on a hidden tab. The existence of the database, which had remained secret since it was sent, becomes public when one Afghan – who had apparently had their asylum claim refused – threatens on Facebook to release it. Afghans on the Facebook group alert British contacts, one of whom then emails the then defence minister James Heappey and then shadow defence minister Luke Pollard to tell them of the possible security breach. The Ministry of Defence then works with officials at the foreign office, MI6 and GCHQ to identify the source of the leak. Ministers from various departments meet in the Cobra briefing room along with Gwyn Jenkins, the director of special forces, to discuss their response. Meanwhile Afghans contact David Williams, a journalist at the Daily Mail, to tell him about the story. Williams calls the MoD, who urge him to hold off publication until they can investigate further. On Friday 25 August, Ben Wallace, the outgoing defence secretary, personally applies to the courts for an injunction to prevent the details becoming public. The injunction is supposed to last four months, giving the government time to airlift those affected out of Afghanistan and bring them to the UK. Two days after Grant Shapps becomes defence secretary, the judge Robin Knowles not only grants the injunction, but upgrades it to a superinjunction, meaning that not only can the details of the leak not be reported, but neither can the injunction itself. Officials decide to relocate an initial 150 people affected by the leak from Afghanistan to the UK under the new and top-secret Afghanistan Response Route. The total number to use that route will eventually grow to 6,900 by the time the Labour government shuts it down in July 2025. Heappey briefs John Healey, then shadow defence secretary, about the leak and the response, at the same time making Healey subject to the superinjunction. Healey takes the legal threat so seriously he does not tell his party leader Keir Starmer about it. Around this time the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, is also made aware of what has happened. The Afghanistan Response Route begins operating. Judge Martin Chamberlain orders the removal of the superinjunction, but the decision is successfully appealed by the government. Having entered government three months earlier, Labour ministers decide to redesign the secret resettlement programme and fold it into the public one. The new government applies to have the superinjunction extended. During the hearing, Chamberlain asks during the hearing how it can be possible for the government not to reveal the details of what has happened, given it now estimates the total cost of all the Afghan resettlement schemes could reach £7bn. Nevertheless, he grants the application. Six months after winning the election, Labour decides to commission a review into what options it has for the secret resettlement scheme. It is to be led by Paul Rimmer, a retired civil servant, and report in 'late spring'. Once more, the government successfully applies to extend the superinjunction. The government invites the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to a briefing about the leak and the secret relocation scheme, but does not mark it urgent and she does not attend. Rimmer files his report, finding 'little evidence of intent by the Taleban [sic] to conduct a campaign of retribution' against those named on the list. The review adds: 'The actual data set (versus some knowledge of 'data' being lost) may not have spread nearly as widely as initially feared … We believe it is unlikely the dataset would be the single, or definitive, piece of information enabling or prompting the Taleban to act.' The government now tells Badenoch it is 'urgent' that she is briefed on the situation, but a meeting does not happen until 14 July. On the basis of the Rimmer report, Chamberlain says he is now minded to remove the injunction. Three days later, on 4 July, the government says it is ending the secret relocation scheme and will apply to remove the superinjunction. Chamberlain orders the superinjunction to be withdrawn on 15 July at midday, giving the government time to contact anyone else affected and take protective measures if necessary.
