Cameron backs air strikes on Islamic State group
British Prime Minister David Cameron has voiced his support for air strikes carried out by the United States and Arab allies on Islamic State militants in Syria.
Downing Street said the PM will use talks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York over the next two days – including with the President of Iran – to discuss what contribution the UK and other members of the international community can make to the fight against the terror group.
The Pentagon said fighter jets, bombers and ship-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in the onslaught against the jihadists.
The news of the attack came as Mr Cameron prepared to hold talks with Iranian president Hassan Rouhani in an attempt to enlist Tehran’s support for the growing international coalition against IS – also known as Isil.
Tomorrow’s meeting with Mr Rouhani will be the first time a British prime minister has held face-to-face bilateral talks with an Iranian president since the country’s Islamic revolution in 1979.
There is growing speculation that he will announce that UK forces will join the air strikes – although they are thought likely to be restricted to Iraq – where they would be operating at the invitation of the government in Baghdad.
While the US - like Britain - has ruled out any co-operation with the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Damascus said that Washington informed its UN envoy before the attacks began.
Forces from Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates were said to have taken part in today’s attacks on targets in Syria - underlining the importance that the US has attached to building support for its action in the region.
Among the areas reportedly hit was the IS stronghold of Raqqa where it is thought a second British aid worker, Alan Henning, is being held.
Since August, the US has carried out around 190 air strikes against IS in Iraq as part of President Barack Obama’s campaign to “degrade and destroy” the militants.
Mr Cameron made clear that he would want to consult the House of Commons, if possible, before engaging British forces, raising the prospect of a possible recall of Parliament after his return from the US on Thursday.
The Prime Minister will be anxious to avoid a repeat of last year’s Commons defeat when he lost a vote on air strikes against Syrian government forces over the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons against the rebels.
While Downing Street has said nothing has been ruled out, Mr Hammond has said there would be significant military, legal and technical differences in mounting strikes on Syrian territory.
France, which has already joined the US in carrying out attacks on IS forces in northern Iraq, has ruled out extending its action into Syria.
