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| UK rules out air strikes against IS in Syria | UK rules out air strikes against IS in Syria |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK has ruled out joining US air strikes against Islamic State (IS) in Syria but has backed attacks against the group's fighters in Iraq. | The UK has ruled out joining US air strikes against Islamic State (IS) in Syria but has backed attacks against the group's fighters in Iraq. |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said MPs voted last year against military action in Syria and that decision would not be revisited. | Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said MPs voted last year against military action in Syria and that decision would not be revisited. |
| It comes after President Obama pledged to "degrade" and "destroy" IS in Syria. | It comes after President Obama pledged to "degrade" and "destroy" IS in Syria. |
| Downing Street said it was "not at the stage" of making any decision about UK participation in any action in Iraq. | Downing Street said it was "not at the stage" of making any decision about UK participation in any action in Iraq. |
| The US has already launched more than 150 air strikes against IS, formerly known as ISIL, in the country and provided arms to Iraqi and Kurdish forces. | |
| 'Unity of approach' | |
| IS controls large parts of Syria and Iraq after a rapid military advance. | IS controls large parts of Syria and Iraq after a rapid military advance. |
| Its fighters have become notorious for their brutality, beheading enemy soldiers and Western journalists on video. | Its fighters have become notorious for their brutality, beheading enemy soldiers and Western journalists on video. |
| As part of US strategy for tackling the jihadists, on Wednesday President Obama announced that 475 military personnel would be sent to Iraq in a non-combat role. | As part of US strategy for tackling the jihadists, on Wednesday President Obama announced that 475 military personnel would be sent to Iraq in a non-combat role. |
| President Obama's anti-IS strategy | President Obama's anti-IS strategy |
| "What President Obama was doing was setting out a tough, long-term, intelligent approach," a Number 10 spokesman said. | "What President Obama was doing was setting out a tough, long-term, intelligent approach," a Number 10 spokesman said. |
| "We very much welcome that that type of approach. The approach that the UK is taking here is a measured and methodical approach." | "We very much welcome that that type of approach. The approach that the UK is taking here is a measured and methodical approach." |
| The spokesman added that the US and UK would continue their "unity of approach" in tackling IS. | |
| In the UK, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Richard Ottaway, said he believed MPs would support bombing targets in Iraq. | |
| "My instinct is the government will propose air strikes," the Conservative MP told BBC News. | |
| "They will put it to Parliament and my instinct is that Parliament will approve it." | |
| 'Gross violation' | |
| Meanwhile the Ministry of Defence said weapons and ammunition provided by the UK to Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq had arrived in Irbil. | |
| The weaponry includes heavy machine guns and almost half a million rounds of ammunition. | |
| "This will give the Kurdish Peshmerga additional firepower in order to help them defend the front line, protect civilians and push back ISIL advances," the MoD said in a statement | |
| "The UK will continue to look positively on any further direct requests for assistance to the Kurds." | |
| Russia, which has been an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has warned that any US bombing of IS positions in the country would be "an act of aggression, a gross violation of international law". |