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UK rules out air strikes against IS in Syria 'Nothing ruled out' over Syria - Number 10
(about 1 hour 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. Number 10 has insisted possible military action against Islamic State (IS) in Syria has not been ruled out.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said MPs voted last year against military action in Syria and that decision would not be revisited. Earlier Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said MPs had voted last year against air strikes and that decision would not be revisited.
It comes after President Obama pledged to "degrade" and "destroy" IS in Syria. Downing Street said he was referring to strikes against the Syrian regime.
Downing Street said it was "not at the stage" of making any decision about UK participation in any action in Iraq. It comes after President Obama pledged to "degrade" and "destroy" IS in Syria - including a systematic campaign of air strikes.
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. BBC political correspondent Vicki Young said there seemed to be some confusion between Downing Street and Mr Hammond.
'Unity of approach''Unity of approach'
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.
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 strategyPresident Obama's anti-IS strategy
"What President Obama was doing was setting out a tough, long-term, intelligent approach," a Number 10 spokesman said. In Berlin earlier, the foreign secretary told reporters: "Let me be clear, Britain will not be taking part in any air strikes in Syria, I can be very clear about that.
"We very much welcome that that type of approach. The approach that the UK is taking here is a measured and methodical approach." "We've already had that discussion in our Parliament last year and we won't be revisiting that position."
The spokesman added that the US and UK would continue their "unity of approach" in tackling IS. But Downing Street said he "the point he was making" was that MPs had voted to oppose "air strikes against the [Syrian President Bashar al-]Assad regime".
"In terms of air power and the like, the prime minister has not ruled anything out," a Number 10 spokesman said.
"That is the position. No decisions have been taken in that regard."
Earlier Number 10 had welcomed President Obama's "tough, long-term, intelligent" strategy in tackling IS and said the US and UK would continue their "unity of approach".
'Gross violation'
In the UK, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Richard Ottaway, said he believed MPs would support bombing targets in Iraq.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."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.""They will put it to Parliament and my instinct is that Parliament will approve it."
'Gross violation' And on Syria he added: "If the argument's put that this is to eliminate the cancer of ISIL, I suspect Parliament will support strikes in Syria against ISIL."
Meanwhile the Ministry of Defence said weapons and ammunition provided by the UK to Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq had arrived in Irbil.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.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"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.""The UK will continue to look positively on any further direct requests for assistance to the Kurds."
US Secretary of State John Kerry is in Saudi Arabia as he seeks to build a regional coalition against IS.
Mr Kerry will hold talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf states as well as Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Nato member Turkey.
Reports say that among the issues to be discussed are training for Syrian rebels on Saudi soil and broader permission from regional states to use their airspace in order to increase the capacity of US aircraft.
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".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".