Cameron Delivers Case for Syria Airstrikes in House of Commons

Local Editor

British Prime Minister David Cameron laid out his case for extending British airstrikes against "ISIS" from Iraq into Syria.

The PM has published his arguments for war in response to a Foreign Affairs Committee [FAC] report, which raised key questions that must be addressed before the UK takes military action.

Cameron argued UK involvement in coalition airstrikes involving the US, France, Turkey and "Arab allies" would "mean greater military effect against ISIL" and speed up progress towards a "better future" for Syria.

He said the UK would work to secure a political transition and put diplomatic pressure on Russia to end its attacks on moderate Syrian forces.

Cameron argues military intervention will be legal because UN Security Council Resolution 2249 calls on member states to take "all necessary measures" to "eradicate the safe haven" "ISIS" has established in Syria and Iraq.

He said airstrikes in Syria have the support of key regional players Turkey and Jordan, and that Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Russia are all members of the International Syria Support Group, which encourages a political strategy to end the Syrian war.

Cameron said the overall military objective of the airstrikes would be to "degrade" "ISIS", so that it no longer presents a terrorist threat to Britain or a regional threat to Syria, Iraq and neighboring states.

He said the military campaign would be one "strand" of its strategy, which includes cutting off the group's finances and challenging its ideology.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team