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UK still seeking to conduct Syria airstrikes, says Michael Fallon UK still seeking to conduct Syria airstrikes, says Michael Fallon
(about 1 hour later)
Britain is still seeking to conduct airstrikes in Syria even though Russia’s military action there is making the country extremely dangerous, Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, has said.Britain is still seeking to conduct airstrikes in Syria even though Russia’s military action there is making the country extremely dangerous, Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, has said.
The senior cabinet minister said it was unhelpful that Russia was now “conniving with and propping up” the regime of the Syrian dictator, Bashar al-Assad, when countries should be working together to fight Islamic State. The senior cabinet minister said it was unhelpful that Russia was “conniving with and propping up” the regime of the Syrian dictator, Bashar al-Assad, when countries should be working together to fight Islamic State.
His comments came after an intense wave of Russian airstrikes on the Syrian provinces of Hama and Idlib early on Wednesday that was followed up with ground assaults by Assad regime forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.His comments came after an intense wave of Russian airstrikes on the Syrian provinces of Hama and Idlib early on Wednesday that was followed up with ground assaults by Assad regime forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Related: Russian jets pound Syrian provinces in fresh wave of attacks – reportsRelated: Russian jets pound Syrian provinces in fresh wave of attacks – reports
Fallon also condemned Russia’s incursion into the airspace of Nato member Turkey and said the majority of airstrikes ordered by Vladimir Putin were against rebel groups fighting Assad in west Syria.Fallon also condemned Russia’s incursion into the airspace of Nato member Turkey and said the majority of airstrikes ordered by Vladimir Putin were against rebel groups fighting Assad in west Syria.
He told the BBC: “Tomorrow in Brussels, Nato ministers will be discussing how we can encourage the Russians to use their influence to stop propping up the Assad regime – which is bombing its own citizens and has helped to fuel the rise of Isil [Isis] – and let us get on with the effort against Isil, which is the real threat to our country.He told the BBC: “Tomorrow in Brussels, Nato ministers will be discussing how we can encourage the Russians to use their influence to stop propping up the Assad regime – which is bombing its own citizens and has helped to fuel the rise of Isil [Isis] – and let us get on with the effort against Isil, which is the real threat to our country.
“We will be coordinating our activity to make sure the Russians actually start to respect some of the rules. They’ve had incursions into Turkish air space. Turkey is a member of Nato and we need to tackle that and make sure we can properly focus on the campaign, the battle, against Isil, which is the real danger.”“We will be coordinating our activity to make sure the Russians actually start to respect some of the rules. They’ve had incursions into Turkish air space. Turkey is a member of Nato and we need to tackle that and make sure we can properly focus on the campaign, the battle, against Isil, which is the real danger.”
Fallon said work must now be done to “deconflict” Syrian airspace but it was still possible for western nations to hit Islamic State in its stronghold of Raqqa.Fallon said work must now be done to “deconflict” Syrian airspace but it was still possible for western nations to hit Islamic State in its stronghold of Raqqa.
Asked about the UK joining the airstrikes, he said: “Isil is organised and directed in north-east Syria that is being targeted by America, French and Australian air forces. We are building the case to for that. When we’ve got a consensus, we will go to parliament and have the vote.”Asked about the UK joining the airstrikes, he said: “Isil is organised and directed in north-east Syria that is being targeted by America, French and Australian air forces. We are building the case to for that. When we’ve got a consensus, we will go to parliament and have the vote.”
David Cameron would need to rely on some Labour MPs to get the vote through the House of Commons, even though Jeremy Corbyn is opposed to strikes and the party’s conference said it would only back military action with UN backing. David Cameron would need to rely on some Labour MPs to get the vote through the House of Commons, even though Jeremy Corbyn is opposed to strikes and Labour party’s conference said it would only back military action with UN backing.
There would be a number of Tory rebels, and unease about the idea has grown since Russia got involved in Syria with ground troops and airstrikes.There would be a number of Tory rebels, and unease about the idea has grown since Russia got involved in Syria with ground troops and airstrikes.
Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, suggested earlier this week that the beginnings of a consensus was emerging in parliament.Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, suggested earlier this week that the beginnings of a consensus was emerging in parliament.
But Cameron has also said he would only take the vote to parliament if he had a convincing plan for Syria after the bloody four-year civil war. But the prime minister has also said he would only take the vote to parliament if he had a convincing plan for Syria after the bloody four-year civil war.
He told Sky News on Tuesday: “We need to demonstrate that we have a vision and a plan for what Syria should look like and I’m clear that means a government not led by Bashar Assad but led by someone who can bring the country together. You need a Syrian government that can appeal not just to the Alawites but to the Sunnis, the Kurds and Christians.”He told Sky News on Tuesday: “We need to demonstrate that we have a vision and a plan for what Syria should look like and I’m clear that means a government not led by Bashar Assad but led by someone who can bring the country together. You need a Syrian government that can appeal not just to the Alawites but to the Sunnis, the Kurds and Christians.”