One man has been arrested. I want to take this opportunity to say how sorry i am for my breach of rules that i ask all of us to follow every single day. Good afternoon and welcome to this bbc news special, where were expecting at around 3 oclock a Coronavirus Briefing from downing street with the possibility that more parts of england could come under the toughest coronavirus restrictions in tier 4, and any changes could be as soon as boxing day this weekend. It is of course because of the new rapidly spreading variant of covid 19 thats already affecting large parts of the london, the southeast and east of england. The communities secretary Robert Jenrick says the strain is now prevalent outside these areas, and so more action may be needed. It comes as britains covid 19 r number the rate at which the virus is reproducing has increased again, to between 1. 1 and 1. 3. Meanwhile, borders have reopened in dover, but 5,000 lorry drivers in kent are facing more delays as they have to wait
Iraq, more capacitiy. Moderate rebels in syria and american air power, no boots on the ground, but over the last few days there are doubts as to whether that will be achieved. Top commander advised the president we need moderate contingent to advise and assist the iraqi army units. Saying if local forces dont work he would recommend u. S. Ground troops potentially to the president. So my question is, if it becomes clear that the only way to achieve the defeat of isil is for the engagement of american Ground Troops will that be something the president will consider at that time. The president will not put american Ground Troops in iraq and he made it again clear today in a statement at sent come nld, quoting the president , we can make a decisive difference but i want to be clear the troops deployed to iraq do not land not have a combat mission. We believe there are any number of options as to how one can guarantee the affect on isil long before you were to dpet get to the hypothetical
And american air power and no combat boots on the ground on the part of the United States, but over the last few days sin the president s made that announcement there have been real downs expressed by military experts whether that is defined as our goal. The top on u. S. Chander in the middle east advised the president that we needed a modest contingent of american troops especially special Operations Forces to advise and assist Iraqi Army Units and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee Says he would recommend u. S. Ground troops potentially to the president. My question is if it becomes clear at that time only way to achieve the defeat of isil, period, end of story, is for the enga engagement of Ground Troops would that be something the president will consider that at that time . The president will not put american Ground Troops into iraq and he made it clear again today in a statement he made at centcom that america can make and im quoting the president , we can make ais decis