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War against Isis: MPs criticise UK for 'strikingly modest' role in fight against group | War against Isis: MPs criticise UK for 'strikingly modest' role in fight against group |
(35 minutes later) | |
MPs have criticised the UK for its "strikingly modest" involvement in the fight against Isis and accused military leaders of failing to set out a "clear and articulate" plan for the British mission in Iraq. | MPs have criticised the UK for its "strikingly modest" involvement in the fight against Isis and accused military leaders of failing to set out a "clear and articulate" plan for the British mission in Iraq. |
MPs on the cross-party Defence Select Committee said they were "surprised and deeply concerned" that the UK is not doing more to tackle the threat posed by the militant group. | MPs on the cross-party Defence Select Committee said they were "surprised and deeply concerned" that the UK is not doing more to tackle the threat posed by the militant group. |
The committee, which found the UK has carried out just six per cent of the US-led coalition air strikes against Isis targets, is urging the UK Government to play a bigger part in the offensive against the extremist group. | |
They said the RAF was making a "relatively minor commitment" to air strikes, with eight Tornadoes "of which it seems only two are flying at a time". | They said the RAF was making a "relatively minor commitment" to air strikes, with eight Tornadoes "of which it seems only two are flying at a time". |
However, the report also said it as unacceptable to sign up to a campaign if it was "entirely developed and owned" by the US without any independent analysis. | However, the report also said it as unacceptable to sign up to a campaign if it was "entirely developed and owned" by the US without any independent analysis. |
The MPs said: "We believe it is unacceptable for the United Kingdom simply to 'sign-up' to providing military support for a campaign plan entirely developed and owned by another coalition partner - in this case, apparently, the United States - without having any independent assessment or analysis of the assumptions, detail and viability of that campaign plan." | The MPs said: "We believe it is unacceptable for the United Kingdom simply to 'sign-up' to providing military support for a campaign plan entirely developed and owned by another coalition partner - in this case, apparently, the United States - without having any independent assessment or analysis of the assumptions, detail and viability of that campaign plan." |
They suggested stepping up air support for ground operations by Iraqi and Kurdish troops once they were ready to launch major offensives, and said the UK should provide extra training - including in dealing with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) - and help in reforming the Iraqi military. | |
"Such activities would require only the deployment of a few hundred personnel, the cost would be relatively modest, and it would not entail the risks inherent in deploying UK troops in combat roles," the report said. | "Such activities would require only the deployment of a few hundred personnel, the cost would be relatively modest, and it would not entail the risks inherent in deploying UK troops in combat roles," the report said. |
Committee chairman Rory Stewart said: "The nightmare of a jihadist state establishing across Syria and Iraq has finally been realised. | Committee chairman Rory Stewart said: "The nightmare of a jihadist state establishing across Syria and Iraq has finally been realised. |
"Daesh [the Arabic name for the group] controls territory equivalent to the size of the UK, has contributed to the displacement of millions, destabilising and threatening neighbouring states, and providing safe-haven to an estimated 20,000 foreign fighters, many dedicated to an international terrorist campaign. | "Daesh [the Arabic name for the group] controls territory equivalent to the size of the UK, has contributed to the displacement of millions, destabilising and threatening neighbouring states, and providing safe-haven to an estimated 20,000 foreign fighters, many dedicated to an international terrorist campaign. |
"Yet the role that the UK is playing in combating it is strikingly modest." | "Yet the role that the UK is playing in combating it is strikingly modest." |
Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |
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