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Michael Fallon: 'Morally indefensible' not to bomb IS in Syria Michael Fallon: 'Morally indefensible' not to bomb IS in Syria
(about 1 hour later)
It is "morally indefensible" for Britain to rely on other countries to tackle the so-called Islamic State in Syria, Michael Fallon has said.It is "morally indefensible" for Britain to rely on other countries to tackle the so-called Islamic State in Syria, Michael Fallon has said.
The defence secretary told the BBC he was appealing to MPs to reconsider the case for airstrikes in the country. The defence secretary told the Daily Telegraph he was appealing to MPs to reconsider the case for airstrikes.
It comes after a Russian passenger plane crashed in Egypt's Sinai desert last Saturday, which the UK government suspects was caused by a bomb.It comes after a Russian passenger plane crashed in Egypt's Sinai desert last Saturday, which the UK government suspects was caused by a bomb.
In 2013, MPs rejected possible UK military action in Syria.In 2013, MPs rejected possible UK military action in Syria.
A four-year civil war in Syria has ground to a stalemate, with President Bashar al-Assad's regime, so-called Islamic State (IS or ISIL), an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. The vote two years ago was on potential airstrikes against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, amid reports he had used chemical weapons, rather than militants from Islamic State (IS or ISIL).
Mr Fallon also dismissed reports a second vote has been dropped, saying it would be held when "we are pretty sure we can win". The government is now making the case for Islamic State to be targeted, given its links to attacks on Western targets around the world, including the killing of 30 British holidaymakers in Tunisia in June. .
"I am asking MPs particularly to reflect on the fact that the streets of Britain at the moment are being kept safe by American, Australian and French aircraft striking at the heart of ISIL in north-east Syria from where ISIL is organised and directed," he said. The four-year civil war in Syria has ground to a stalemate, with President Bashar al-Assad's regime, so-called Islamic State (IS or ISIL), an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory.
"ISIL is a very direct threat to us in Britain. We've had 30 British holidaymakers slaughtered on a beach in Tunisia, and it's not right morally to rely on French or Australian or American aircraft to keep our streets safe. 'Bite the bullet'
"In the end, we have to be prepared to strike at ISIL headquarters, which is in Syria and not in Iraq." Mr Fallon told the newspaper that IS was a direct threat to the UK's national security and it was "very odd" that the UK was among a coalition of countries - including the US, France and Australia - fighting IS militants in Iraq but was not doing the same in Syria, where the group is based and co-ordinates its wider military operations from.
Bombing campaigns "That is morally indefensible that our streets should be protected by French, Australian and American aircraft, when we are not prepared to bite the bullet and get the Tornados dealing with these supply routes," he said.
Last year, Parliament approved UK airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq, with the government winning by 524-43. Asked whether it would strengthen the case for British if IS was found to be responsible for bringing the Russian airliner down, he replied: "We don't know whether it was Isil. If it turns out to be Isil, of course."
Last year, Parliament approved UK airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq, the government winning the vote by 524-43, but ministers have said they will only seek MPs' approval to extend the action to Syria if there is a political "consensus" behind the action.
The four-year civil war in Syria has ground to a stalemate, with President Bashar al-Assad's regime, so-called Islamic State (IS or ISIL), an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory.
For more than a year, the US and coalition forces have been carrying out air strikes against IS, which controls a large part of northern Syria and parts of neighbouring Iraq.For more than a year, the US and coalition forces have been carrying out air strikes against IS, which controls a large part of northern Syria and parts of neighbouring Iraq.
'New Parliament'
And Russia began bombing rebels in Syria in September, with President Vladimir Putin saying the aim was to "stabilise the legitimate authority" of President Assad.And Russia began bombing rebels in Syria in September, with President Vladimir Putin saying the aim was to "stabilise the legitimate authority" of President Assad.
Mr Fallon said it made "no sense" for British aircraft to have to turn back at "an artificial border that ISIL itself does not respect". In a separate interview with the BBC, Mr Fallon dismissed recent media reports that a new vote on Syria has been dropped, saying it would be held when "we are pretty sure we can win".
"If we're serious about tackling ISIL, in the end we have to be prepared to strike at ISIL headquarters, which is in Syria, not Iraq." "We've had 30 British holidaymakers slaughtered on a beach in Tunisia, and it's not right morally to rely on French or Australian or American aircraft to keep our streets safe," he told the BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Beale.
"This is a new parliament, and we are continuing to work to build a consensus that would give us the authority to strikes at the heart of ISIL in north-east Syria," he said. "In the end, we have to be prepared to strike at ISIL headquarters, which is in Syria and not in Iraq... This is a new parliament, and we are continuing to work to build a consensus that would give us the authority to strikes at the heart of ISIL in north-east Syria."
He would not be drawn on when any second parliamentary vote on military action in Syria might take place, saying it would be when there was "a consensus". Political situation
Over the next few weeks the government will hold a series of intelligence briefings for MPs on the year-long RAF campaign to try to build a political consensus to expand their mission, Mr Fallon added.Over the next few weeks the government will hold a series of intelligence briefings for MPs on the year-long RAF campaign to try to build a political consensus to expand their mission, Mr Fallon added.
The Russian Metrojet Airbus A321 was flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg when it crashed, killing all 224 people on board, on Saturday.The Russian Metrojet Airbus A321 was flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg when it crashed, killing all 224 people on board, on Saturday.
UK investigators believe a bomb was put in the hold prior to take-off, the BBC has learned.UK investigators believe a bomb was put in the hold prior to take-off, the BBC has learned.
On Tuesday, the influential Foreign Affairs Committee - which has a Conservative majority - urged Prime Minister David Cameron not to press ahead with a vote on UK air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria.On Tuesday, the influential Foreign Affairs Committee - which has a Conservative majority - urged Prime Minister David Cameron not to press ahead with a vote on UK air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria.
The committee of MPs said no vote should take place on Syria until the government presents a "coherent international strategy" to defeat IS and end the country's civil war.The committee of MPs said no vote should take place on Syria until the government presents a "coherent international strategy" to defeat IS and end the country's civil war.
The Labour leadership is currently opposed to extending air strikes, as are the SNP, while several Tory MPs harbour doubts about the move - making it unlikely that the government could win a vote.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said there had to be a political solution and he did not believe that "more bombing is going to help in this".Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said there had to be a political solution and he did not believe that "more bombing is going to help in this".