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Military force alone cannot defeat IS, say MPs MPs warn Islamic State could pose global threat
(about 9 hours later)
Lack of political progress in Iraq and Syria risks undermining military operations against so-called Islamic State militants, MPs have warned. MPs have warned of the risk of so-called Islamic State becoming an "international movement" if it is forced out of Iraq and Syria.
The Commons Defence Committee said UK air strikes against IS, also known as Daesh, in Iraq had been effective in helping to win back and hold territory. The Commons Defence Committee said there was a danger of IS, also known as Daesh, forming regional offshoots, like al-Qaeda before it, in Africa and Asia.
But without political reforms, it said Daesh could spring back or be replaced by other Islamist groups. IS-backed fighters control parts of Libya and have carried out attacks as far afield as Turkey and Indonesia.
It also warned of Daesh migrating to Africa or Asia or forming affiliates. The government said it was fighting Islamist militants on all fronts.
A spokesman said it accepted Daesh could not be defeated by force alone and its strategy encompassed cutting off its sources of income, challenging its propaganda and curbing the flow of foreign fighters.
The UK has been taking part in air strikes against Islamist militants in Iraq since 2014 and Parliament authorised their extension to Syria last year.The UK has been taking part in air strikes against Islamist militants in Iraq since 2014 and Parliament authorised their extension to Syria last year.
In its report, the committee said there had been 550 RAF missions in Iraq since December 2015 and 65 in Syria.In its report, the committee said there had been 550 RAF missions in Iraq since December 2015 and 65 in Syria.
Substantial progress was being made in Iraq, it said, where the UK was also playing a pivotal role in training Iraqi forces. 'Credible forces'
Opposition details Substantial progress was being made in Iraq, it said, where the UK was helping government forces regain and hold on to territory and also playing a pivotal role in training Iraqi troops
But the situation in Syria was more "complicated" given the nature of the Assad regime and a lack of clarity over the opposition forces operating on the ground. But it expressed concerns that unless there were far-reaching political and economic reforms, it would leave the space for Daesh to spring back or be replaced by other Islamist groups.
The situation in Syria, it said, was more "complicated" given the nature of the Assad regime and a lack of clarity over the opposition forces operating on the ground.
The committee said it had requested details from the government about opposition groups in Syria in light of David Cameron's comments last year that there were 70,000 moderate forces which were neither aligned with Islamic State nor the regime.The committee said it had requested details from the government about opposition groups in Syria in light of David Cameron's comments last year that there were 70,000 moderate forces which were neither aligned with Islamic State nor the regime.
The MPs said the government's unwillingness to identify all the groups was understandable given the risk of intelligence falling into the regime's hands.The MPs said the government's unwillingness to identify all the groups was understandable given the risk of intelligence falling into the regime's hands.
But they said the government's failure to provide details could undermine its claim that the action in Syria was in support of "credible moderate ground forces".But they said the government's failure to provide details could undermine its claim that the action in Syria was in support of "credible moderate ground forces".
The disparity between the effort being put into military and stabilisation efforts was "concerning", said the committee, which added that the low priority being given to diplomatic and development work "does not reassure us about Iraq's long-term future".The disparity between the effort being put into military and stabilisation efforts was "concerning", said the committee, which added that the low priority being given to diplomatic and development work "does not reassure us about Iraq's long-term future".
Network of affiliates
It also called on the government to put more information about the targets for air strikes in Syria into the public domain, in order to "justify and validate" its policy of military action.It also called on the government to put more information about the targets for air strikes in Syria into the public domain, in order to "justify and validate" its policy of military action.
Julian Lewis, the Conservative MP who chairs the committee, said the UK must focus on the risk of ISIS-Daesh proliferating into an "international movement". Julian Lewis, the Conservative MP who chairs the committee, said the UK must focus on the long-term risks.
"If Daesh transforms itself into an international movement or a network of affiliates - like al-Qaeda before it - which can survive the loss of territory - the UK government approach will need to adapt," he said.
"For example, if Daesh is defeated in the Middle East but then grows strong in Africa, the current strategy will require major revision.
"Assuming Daesh is squeezed out of both countries, we have to focus too on what happens next - both in other countries to which Daesh may migrate and in Syria especially where there is no shortage of other Islamist groups, just as dangerous, which are planning to take control.""Assuming Daesh is squeezed out of both countries, we have to focus too on what happens next - both in other countries to which Daesh may migrate and in Syria especially where there is no shortage of other Islamist groups, just as dangerous, which are planning to take control."
A government spokesman said the UK was at the forefront of the fight against Islamist militants, who were losing territory in both Iraq and Syria.
"We have conducted over 1,000 air strikes, which is second only to the US in both countries, and have helped train more than 25,000 Iraqi forces," they said.
"We're supporting the Iraqi government to deliver stabilisation, reconciliation and reform, and are working with international partners and the UN towards a political settlement in Syria."