This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/19/world/middleeast/britain-iraq-campaign.html

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Britain Says Iraq Campaign Will Last ‘Weeks and Months’ Britain Says Iraq Campaign Will Last ‘Weeks and Months’
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — As Kurdish forces in Iraq, backed by United States airstrikes, fought for strategic gains against Sunni militants, Britain’s defense minister was quoted on Monday as telling air force personnel that the campaign against the insurgents would last “weeks and months” and was no longer simply a humanitarian affair.LONDON — As Kurdish forces in Iraq, backed by United States airstrikes, fought for strategic gains against Sunni militants, Britain’s defense minister was quoted on Monday as telling air force personnel that the campaign against the insurgents would last “weeks and months” and was no longer simply a humanitarian affair.
The remarks by the minister, Michael Fallon, followed a warning by Prime Minister David Cameron that the fight against militants of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, represented “a generational struggle” that “I believe we will be fighting for the rest of my political lifetime.”The remarks by the minister, Michael Fallon, followed a warning by Prime Minister David Cameron that the fight against militants of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, represented “a generational struggle” that “I believe we will be fighting for the rest of my political lifetime.”
Both men seemed to be readying Britons for a longer and riskier military commitment in support of Kurdish and Iraqi forces opposed to the ISIS militants, who swept into Iraq in June from Syria and seized broad swaths of territory. Over the weekend, American airstrikes against militant positions at a major dam north of the city of Mosul were reported to have enabled Kurdish forces to advance.Both men seemed to be readying Britons for a longer and riskier military commitment in support of Kurdish and Iraqi forces opposed to the ISIS militants, who swept into Iraq in June from Syria and seized broad swaths of territory. Over the weekend, American airstrikes against militant positions at a major dam north of the city of Mosul were reported to have enabled Kurdish forces to advance.
As of late Sunday, Kurdish government officials said fighting around the dam complex, Iraq’s largest, was continuing, despite early reports that the site had been retaken.As of late Sunday, Kurdish government officials said fighting around the dam complex, Iraq’s largest, was continuing, despite early reports that the site had been retaken.
On Friday, the European Union endorsed efforts by some of its members— including Britain, France and the Czech Republic — to send military aid directly to the Kurdish forces, known as pesh merga. British Tornado warplanes, operating from the Akrotiri base on Cyprus, have flown surveillance flights in support of efforts to rescue members of the Yazidi religious minority stranded on Mount Sinjar. On Friday, the European Union endorsed efforts by some of its members — including Britain, France and the Czech Republic — to send military aid directly to the Kurdish forces, known as pesh merga. British Tornado warplanes, operating from the Akrotiri base on Cyprus, have flown surveillance flights in support of efforts to rescue members of the Yazidi religious minority stranded on Mount Sinjar.
Western nations have been alarmed by the apparent ease of the militants’ advance, which has sent tens of thousands of civilians fleeing and at one point seemed to threaten Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish region in Iraq.Western nations have been alarmed by the apparent ease of the militants’ advance, which has sent tens of thousands of civilians fleeing and at one point seemed to threaten Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish region in Iraq.
In remarks released by his office, Mr. Fallon told pilots and flight crew at Akrotiri over the weekend to prepare for continued surveillance “in the next few weeks and months.”In remarks released by his office, Mr. Fallon told pilots and flight crew at Akrotiri over the weekend to prepare for continued surveillance “in the next few weeks and months.”
“We want to help the new government of Iraq and Kurdish forces,” he said. “This is not simply a humanitarian mission. We and other countries in Europe are determined to do what we can to help the government of Iraq combat this new and very extreme form of terrorism.”“We want to help the new government of Iraq and Kurdish forces,” he said. “This is not simply a humanitarian mission. We and other countries in Europe are determined to do what we can to help the government of Iraq combat this new and very extreme form of terrorism.”
Mr. Fallon said Britain had also deployed specialized surveillance aircraft alongside the Tornados to track the insurgents’ movements in Iraq.Mr. Fallon said Britain had also deployed specialized surveillance aircraft alongside the Tornados to track the insurgents’ movements in Iraq.
The comments followed an article by Mr. Cameron in The Sunday Telegraph saying that, while Britain “should avoid sending armies to fight or occupy,” it would only be possible to achieve what he called true security “if we use all our resources — aid, diplomacy, our military prowess — to help bring about a more stable world.”The comments followed an article by Mr. Cameron in The Sunday Telegraph saying that, while Britain “should avoid sending armies to fight or occupy,” it would only be possible to achieve what he called true security “if we use all our resources — aid, diplomacy, our military prowess — to help bring about a more stable world.”
“The creation of an extremist caliphate in the heart of Iraq and extending into Syria is not a problem miles away from home. Nor is it a problem that should be defined by a war 10 years ago,” he said, apparently referring to the American-led invasion of Iraq, in which Britain participated.“The creation of an extremist caliphate in the heart of Iraq and extending into Syria is not a problem miles away from home. Nor is it a problem that should be defined by a war 10 years ago,” he said, apparently referring to the American-led invasion of Iraq, in which Britain participated.
“It is our concern here and now. Because if we do not act to stem the onslaught of this exceptionally dangerous terrorist movement, it will only grow stronger until it can target us on the streets of Britain,” he wrote.“It is our concern here and now. Because if we do not act to stem the onslaught of this exceptionally dangerous terrorist movement, it will only grow stronger until it can target us on the streets of Britain,” he wrote.
ISIS, “makes no secret of its expansionist aims. Even today it has the ancient city of Aleppo firmly within its sights,” he said, referring to Syria’s largest city. “And it boasts of its designs on Jordan and Lebanon, and right up to the Turkish border. If it succeeds, we would be facing a terrorist state on the shores of the Mediterranean and bordering a NATO member.” ISIS “makes no secret of its expansionist aims. Even today it has the ancient city of Aleppo firmly within its sights,” he said, referring to Syria’s largest city. “And it boasts of its designs on Jordan and Lebanon, and right up to the Turkish border. If it succeeds, we would be facing a terrorist state on the shores of the Mediterranean and bordering a NATO member.”
His words recalled arguments by previous British governments used to explain deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, depicted as states that directly threatened British security.His words recalled arguments by previous British governments used to explain deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, depicted as states that directly threatened British security.