air power

Far from its victims, air power remains the height of modernity.

Libya's Colonel Gaddafi gave up his Weapons of Mass Destruction programme in 2003; eight years later he was dead in a ditch, overthrown by the Arab Spring protests that were backed by Western air power.

Russia used its formidable air power while Iran sent military advisors to Syria and Hezbollah, the militia it supports in neighbouring Lebanon, deployed its well-trained fighters.

A further 618 jobs will be cut from its headquarters, 250 from its air power department, and 47 from its connected intelligence department.

Without a doubt the regime and its allies will be working to steady themselves and to hit back, especially with air power.