British members of the Parliament (MPs) are scheduled to hold a one-day debate and vote on the motion Wednesday to decide whether British airstrikes against IS, also known as ISIL or ISIS, should be extended from Iraq to Syria.
Noting that IS "poses a direct threat" to Britain, the motion said it "supports Her Majesty's Government in taking military action, specifically airstrikes, exclusively against ISIL in Syria."
It ruled out deploying British troops in ground combat operations in Syria.
- The motion also noted "the requests from France, the US and regional allies for UK military assistance" and acknowledged "the importance of seeking to avoid civilian casualties, using the UK's particular capabilities."
"I will be making the arguments and I hope as many members of Parliament across all parties will support me as possible," British Prime Minister David Cameron said Tuesday at Downing Street.
"The motion talks about the necessity of taking military action against ISIL in Syria as well as in Iraq, but it is part of a broader strategy," he added.
"It's about the politics and the diplomacy and the humanitarian aid, all of which we need to bring to bear to bring peace to Syria but to make sure we protect our national interest of fighting against this appalling terrorist organization," the prime minister explained.
The Labour Party, the country's largest opposition party, is still split over British military involvement in Syria.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn remains opposed to extending airstrikes to Syria, while some senior members in his shadow cabinet back the military intervention.
Corbyn has decided to allow his MPs a free vote on the motion, meaning that Labour MPs can decide according to their own judgment, regardless of their party leader's preferences.
"I hope every MP will recognize tomorrow there's no hiding place on whipping or anything else, you've got to make up your own mind," he said.
"It seems to me we're stepping into something potentially rather dangerous and unknown but also when you bomb in Raqqa or anywhere else, any other place, you kill people," he warned.
Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
2/12/15
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UK airstrikes in Syria would be legal even without UN Security Council backing. - (Cameron)
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Cameron urges UK parliament to back bombing of IS in Syria...
ReplyDeleteBritish Prime Minister David Cameron has urged parliament to approve air strikes against so-called Islamic State in Syria, saying Britain could make a "real difference" to the US-led campaign to destroy the militants.
Mr Cameron's argument that Britain should launch more military action in the Middle East was all but drowned out by politicians demanding he apologise for suggesting that those opposing airstrikes were "a bunch of terrorist sympathisers".
Mr Cameron avoided making an apology, saying he respected those who disagree. But anger over the slur could stiffen opposition in the Labour Party, whose leader, Jeremy Corbyn, criticised the Conservative prime minister for rushing to war............http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/1202/750613-syria-russia-uk/